Next-generation sequencing (NGS), a technology that could dramatically reduce infectious disease diagnostic time from over a month to under three days, is now on the brink of clinical implementation in Korea.

At the 28th Spring Conference of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology held on June 27, Professor Jaehyun Park of Seoul National University Hospital emphasized that “Turnaround time (TAT) is the most critical factor in NGS-based infectious disease diagnostics.” He stated that while the technology is ready, improvements in speed and practicality are essential for NGS to become a standard tool in clinical settings.

Professor Park highlighted the limitations of traditional methods, noting that cultures are slow, PCR targets are limited, and conventional sequencing techniques struggle to detect co-infections or unknown pathogens.

In Seoul National University Hospital’s own study, NGS-based infectious disease testing currently takes an average of 33 days (7 for sequencing and 6 for analysis/reporting), which is impractical for real-time clinical decision-making.

“If results don’t come within 1–3 days, the test is clinically meaningless,” Park emphasized. He also noted that compact and streamlined NGS platforms, such as MiSeq i100, may be more appropriate for hospitals than large, complex sequencers.

 

He also shared clinical cases where NGS proved highly effective, such as:

• Tracking the spread of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs)

1. Differentiating non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)

• Analyzing viral resistance mutations, including CMV

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For example, while traditional methods often fail to distinguish NTM species—leading to misdiagnosis—NGS enables species-level identification, supporting timely and appropriate treatment.

At the event, Dow Biomedica, the official partner of Illumina in Korea, showcased the MiSeq i100 along with targeted metagenomics panels for respiratory (RPIP) and urinary (UPIP) infections.

The MiSeq i100 features XLEAP-SBS chemistry that enables sequencing speeds four times faster than comparable systems. With its built-in DRAGEN analysis platform, the system offers end-to-end automation—from sequencing to report generation—within the device.

The metagenomics panels allow direct detection of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and antimicrobial resistance genes from samples like sputum and urine—without the need for culture—enabling personalized treatment for critical care patients and improving antimicrobial stewardship.

Though currently classified as Research Use Only (RUO), Dow Biomedica is preparing for clinical adoption through an LDT-based new medical technology evaluation, in line with growing demand in hospitals.

“Precision metagenomics holds the key to the future of infectious disease diagnostics,” a Dow Biomedica representative stated. “Now is the golden time to bring this technology into hospitals, with clinical demand, regulatory readiness, and technological maturity finally aligned.”
The company also called for regulatory reforms to ensure that life-saving technologies like NGS can be deployed without delay.