Metagenomics Hits UK Clinical Practice

UK hospitals are diagnosing tricky infection cases using metagenomics, thanks to the award-winning work of one London team

By Helen Bristow 08/20/2025 Interview 4 min read

Metagenomics identifies rare pathogens that traditional methods miss.
GOSH has pioneered sterile site metagenomics for infection diagnosis.
Service established in 2014 after an encephalitis case revealed the diagnostic potential of metagenomics.
600+ tests have been performed, with 74 percent of patients seeing management changes.
The service is the first and only accredited in the UK.
Collaboration with UCL has greatly enhanced diagnostic capabilities.
Future plans include expanding access to more patient populations.

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