Virus or Bacteria? New Israeli Test Quickly Identifies Infections in Children

The 15-minute blood test helps doctors determine whether a child’s infection is viral or bacterial.

By Shula Rosen

The UK’s National Health Service is testing an Israeli-developed diagnostic tool designed to rapidly identify serious infections in children, potentially transforming emergency care and antibiotic use across hospitals.

The trial involves MeMed, a health-tech company headquartered in Haifa and Andover, Massachusetts, which created a 15-minute blood test that helps doctors determine whether a child’s infection is viral or bacterial.

The goal is to treat conditions like sepsis and meningitis faster while avoiding unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.

The BV test is currently being piloted in three major UK hospitals: St. Mary’s in London, Alder Hey in Liverpool, and the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle.

NHS England is funding the trial, which will run until March before officials decide whether to introduce the technology nationwide.

Dr. Eran Eden, co-founder and CEO of MeMed, told Jewish News the project represents the culmination of more than a decade of work by teams of clinicians, engineers, and scientists worldwide. He added that the focus now is on how such technology performs in real-world clinical settings, crediting the NHS and participating hospitals for leading innovation in pediatric care.

Dr. Charlotte Durand, a consultant in pediatric emergency medicine at Alder Hey, said early results are encouraging: “We’ve seen firsthand how this innovation can make a vital difference to children in the emergency department. It could have a massive impact on how we deliver care.”

MeMed, established in 2009, has already received FDA clearance for its platform and is expanding into hospitals across Europe, Asia, and the United States. A finger-prick version of the test is also in development for use in community clinics and GP offices.