Next generation rapid diagnostic tests for meningitis diagnosis

•Existing meningitis RDTs have characteristics that limit their global implementation at various levels of care.•Next generation meningitis RDTs will have features that increase accessibility and use at healthcare facilities.•Availability of next generation meningitis RDTs will lead to a reduction in meningitis morbidity and mortality worldwide. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are increasingly recognized as valuable, transformative tools for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Although there are a variety of meningitis RDTs currently available, certain product features restrict their use to specific levels of care and settings. For this reason, the development of meningitis RDTs for use at all levels of care, including those in low-resource settings, was included in the “Defeating Meningitis by 2030” roadmap. Here we address the limitations of available meningitis RDTs and present test options and specifications to consider when developing the next generation of meningitis RDTs.