Henderson Fish and G Group

The field of microbiology has transitioned from slow, culture-based methods (which could take days) to Syndromic Panels. If a patient presents with a respiratory infection, a single "Respiratory Panel" IVD can now test for 20+ viruses and bacteria (including COVID-19, Flu, and RSV) in under an hour.

This document emphasizes the role of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST). With the rise of "superbugs," IVDs that can quickly determine which antibiotic will kill a specific bacteria are vital for Antimicrobial Stewardship. In 2026, rapid AST tools use machine vision to monitor bacterial growth in real-time, providing results in hours rather than the traditional 48-hour window.