The value of next-generation sequencing technology in pathogen detection

Infectious disease is common in children.Accurate and rapid pathogen diagnosis can help clinicians to make targeted treatment and improve the outcome of children.The next-generation sequencing has been developed and applied in clinic recently, which has become a new method of pathogen diagnosis.Metagenomicnext-generation sequencing is the most widely used for pathogen detectation in infectious disease.It can detect all pathogens nucleic acids of the samples unbiasedly.This technology includes sample collection, nucleic acid extraction, library preparation, high-throughput sequencing, biological information analysis and report interpretation.As the complication of whole process involving clinical, microbiological and bioinformation fields, the interpretation of the report results needs to be carefully considered and verified by clinicians depends on the situation of patients and other auxiliary diagnostic methods.Clinicians need to understand next-generation sequencing in order to make better use of this technology and serve patients. Key words: Next-generation sequencing; Metagenomic next-generation; Infection; Pathogen