Rapid test for viral meningitis and viral encephalitis

The research is based on the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from many patients in whom doctors suspect a brain infection.

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Using special laboratory techniques, more than 1,000 different proteins are analyzed for each patient. The researchers are looking for a combination that best indicates whether someone has a viral infection. The aim is to use this knowledge to develop a simple, rapid test that doctors can perform directly at the patient’s bedside. This would allow patients to receive the right treatment sooner.

Recently, the research team discovered that measuring a substance in the cerebrospinal fluid, CRP, can very clearly show whether someone has bacterial meningitis. This test is simple, inexpensive, 3 to 5 euros, and provides a result within 30 minutes. Thanks to this discovery, the test is already being used in hospitals in the Netherlands and other countries.