15-minute sepsis test could save young lives
Every year, children and young people across the UK die from sepsis, often in situations where it is treatable, but it is not recognised quickly enough in hospital settings.
Despite clear warning signs, too many families are left grieving because of delays in diagnosis and treatment. In some cases, antibiotics are not administered until it is far too late. These are not rare or isolated incidents they are systemic failings, and they are costing lives.
Fieldfisher represent many families whose lives have been devastated by a failure to spot and treat signs of sepsis or meningococcal meningitis in time. Too often we hear how parents' concerns that something is seriously wrong with their child are dismissed by medical staff.
That is why the news that the NHS is trialling a new 15-minute blood test to rapidly detect life-threatening infections in children is so important. This test has the potential to save lives by helping doctors distinguish between viral and bacterial infections in minutes, not hours.
The MeMed BV test is currently being trialled in three major children’s hospitals: Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, St Mary’s Hospital in London, and the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle. It works by analysing the body’s immune response to infection, providing a result in just 15 minutes.
This is a significant improvement on current testing methods, which can take several hours to return results from a laboratory. In that time, a child with sepsis may deteriorate rapidly and without timely antibiotics, the consequences can be devastating, from tissue damage and limb amputations to organ failure and death.
Clinicians involved in the trial have already reported cases where the test enabled them to act quickly, including one child with meningococcal meningitis and another with sepsis. In both cases, the rapid diagnosis allowed for immediate treatment.
I represented the family of Mia Ginever, a 19-year-old university student, who died after being admitted to Frimley Park Hospital with suspected sepsis. Despite clear signs of deterioration, she was not given antibiotics for over eight hours. The coroner concluded that her death was avoidable and described the care she received as “lamentable”.
Treatment delays at Homerton University Hospital led to William Hewes, 22, dying within 24 hours of being admitted when his bacterial meningitis infection developed into sepsis. I represented his heartbroken mother at inquest where the Senior Coroner for north London concluded there were significant failings in the management of William's care including delays in his receiving antibiotics.
These cases are tragic, and they are preventable. The 15-minute test could be a game-changer for busy emergency departments, particularly during the winter months when services are under immense pressure. By enabling faster, more accurate diagnoses, the test can help ensure that children with serious infections receive the treatment they need without delay.
The trial, funded through NHS England’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare programme, runs until March 2026. If successful, it could pave the way for a national rollout, a move that would be widely welcomed by clinicians, patients, and families alike.
At Fieldfisher, we continue to support families affected by delayed or inadequate medical care. We welcome this trial as a vital step toward improving patient safety and preventing avoidable deaths from sepsis.
Contact us
For further information about sepsis claims or fatal medical negligence claims, please call Deborah Nadel on 03304606750 or email deborah.nadel@fieldfisher.com.
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