Evaluating the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of 16S and 18S rRNA gene targeted next-generation sequencing based on five years of clinical experience.

As a supplement to culture, tNGS improves identification of pathogenic microorganisms in a broad range of clinical specimens. However, the long turnaround time of tNGS in our setting may have contributed to a limited clinical utility. An improved turnaround time can be the key to improved clinical utility in a future setting.