The microbiology lab at Burgas University Hospital now runs PCR tests for the viruses that cause meningitis and encephalitis, the hospital said. It is the only hospital in the region that offers the test.

Staff test cerebrospinal fluid, and the result shows which virus caused the infection.

Meningitis and encephalitis affect the central nervous system, so patients need a quick diagnosis and early treatment, said Dr Kalina Tsankova, head of the microbiology laboratory. She said it is hard to tell which virus caused the infection, because different viruses cause similar symptoms.

The PCR method looks for the virus's genetic material in the sample. This gives doctors the data to make an exact diagnosis and choose treatment, Dr Tsankova said.

Modern equipment and the lab's wider range of diagnostic tests made the new test possible. The hospital says the equipment makes the diagnosis of infections much more precise. It says doctors will be more sure of their diagnosis, and patients will learn the cause sooner and get more precise and timely treatment.

PCR is not new to the team. During the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors used it to confirm coronavirus infection. The same molecular genetic method is now also used for other serious infectious diseases.