Fast Blood Test Cuts Wait Time to Under 4 Hours

iFAST is a new test that works straight from a positive blood culture. It looks at the electrical changes of many bacteria when antibiotics are added. The result comes in under four hours, no need to wait days.

In the first real world study, the test matched the lab method in 97.8% of cases for Enterobacterales and 97.2% for non‑fermenting gram‑negative bacteria. Its sensitivity was 96.8% and 98.4% respectively, and specificity was 98.2% and 96.9%, both above the required 95%.

The researchers checked repeatability by testing twelve isolates at three different hospitals, each run three times on separate days with different staff. The agreement stayed around 95.7%, showing the test is reliable.

Doctors need fast answers because delays raise the risk of serious illness. Guidelines say therapy should start within one hour, but waiting longer can hurt patients. This quick test lets clinicians choose the right drug right away, supporting better care.