FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis (M/E) false-negative for cryptococcal meningitis

We read with great interest the article by González-Donapetry et al. on a case of false-negative BioFire® FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis assay (FilmArray® ME panel, BioFire Diagnostics, bioMe ́rieux, Salt Lake City, UT, USA) result for Neisseria meningitidis and investigating how they managed to overcome the situation. 1 González-Donapetry P. García-Rodríguez J. Cendejas-Bueno E A case of a FilmArray® ME false negative in meningococcal meningitis. J Infect. 2019; 79: 277-287 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar False-negative cases of bacterial meningitis in FilmArray® ME panel are rarely described in the literature. 1 González-Donapetry P. García-Rodríguez J. Cendejas-Bueno E A case of a FilmArray® ME false negative in meningococcal meningitis. J Infect. 2019; 79: 277-287 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar However, several published case reports have described false-negative FilmArray® ME panel results in patients with cryptococcal meningitis or meningoencephalitis. 2 Van T.T. Kim T.H. Butler-Wu S.M. Evaluation of the Biofire FilmArray meningitis/encephalitis assay for the detection of Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2020; 26: 1375-1379 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar , 3 Lee S.H. Chen S.Y. Chien J.Y. Lee T.F. Chen J.M. Hsueh P.R. Usefulness of the FilmArray meningitis/encephalitis (M/E) panel for the diagnosis of infectious meningitis and encephalitis in Taiwan. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2019; 52: 760-768 Crossref PubMed Scopus (32) Google Scholar , 4 Lewis P.O. Lanier C.G. Patel P.D. Krolikowski W.D. Krolikowski M.A. False negative diagnostic errors with polymerase chain reaction for the detection of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Med Mycol. 2020; 58: 408-410 Crossref PubMed Scopus (13) Google Scholar , 5 Rhein J. Bahr N.C. Hemmert A.C. Cloud J.L. Bellamkonda S. Oswald C. et al. Diagnostic performance of a multiplex PCR assay for meningitis in an HIV-infected population in Uganda. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2016; 84: 268-273 Crossref PubMed Scopus (78) Google Scholar