Collaboration Expands Access to Rapid Metagenomic Diagnostics for Complex Infections

Hospitals are seeing rising rates of complicated and healthcare-associated infections, especially in immunocompromised patients, intensifying the need for rapid, comprehensive pathogen detection. Clinicians require actionable, organism-level data to guide timely antimicrobial therapy and limit invasive procedures. A new collaboration now makes advanced metagenomic plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage testing with 24-hour laboratory processing available to clinicians.

Karius, Inc. and Mayo Clinic Laboratories have announced a collaboration to make Karius’s metagenomic infectious disease tests—the Karius Spectrum and Karius Focus | BAL—available to order through Mayo Clinic Laboratories. The portfolio employs metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to detect a comprehensive list of pathogens from plasma with Karius Spectrum, and pathogens relevant to lung infections from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid with Karius Focus | BAL. The tests are positioned to provide comprehensive pathogen identification and actionable diagnostic data for complex infections.

Image: Karius Focus BAL is designed to quickly identify the etiology of lung infections and improve diagnostic yield over standard of care testing (Photo courtesy of Karius)

Both assays are Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) performed in Karius’s CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory. A laboratory processing time of 24 hours enables rapid pathogen detection and supporting timely clinical decision-making. Karius harnesses metagenomics, next-generation sequencing, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the precision and speed of pathogen diagnosis.

The collaboration includes joint educational initiatives to raise awareness of the clinical utility of metagenomic diagnostics for infectious diseases in immunocompromised patients, including scientific webinars, case-study sessions, and field-based training. Karius’s products will be accessible through Mayo Clinic Laboratories, with streamlined sample submission and test reporting within 24 hours of arrival at the laboratory. Together, the organizations aim to extend access to advanced diagnostics for patients with serious, often life-threatening infections.

"Our collaboration with Karius expands the existing Mayo Clinic Laboratories metagenomic sequencing portfolio to include plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage testing, strengthening the breadth of our diagnostic offerings. Backed by data and centered on patient need, these tests accurately identify causative pathogens and support clinical decision-making. By empowering clinicians to select targeted therapies, the results can reduce the need for invasive procedures and ultimately improve patient outcomes,” said William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories

“Karius is committed to transforming infectious disease diagnostics so that patients and clinicians get the right answer sooner. By enabling earlier and more comprehensive pathogen detection than standard-of-care testing alone, our tests help clinicians reach a diagnosis faster and initiate appropriate antimicrobial therapy sooner, an important driver of better patient outcomes. This collaboration with Mayo Clinic Laboratories expands access to our tests and equips more clinicians with timely, actionable insights to improve care for immunocompromised patients hospitalized with serious, often life-threatening infections,” said Alec Ford, CEO of Karius.

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