Streamlining Viral Surveillance in Transplant Patients with the Alinity m Platform

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and BK Virus (BKV) infections are common with high seropositivity rates in immunocompetent individuals but when reactivated can increase morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals such as transplant recipients. Monitoring viral load of these viruses plays an important role in treatment and management of transplant recipients. This study compared the clinical performance of Alinity m CMV, Alinity m EBV, and Alinity m BKV assays to other widely utlized transplant assays. Clinical plasma specimen testing comparing Alinity m CMV with cobas CMV and RealTi m e CMV had coefficient of correlation (r) of 0.974 and 0.991, and mean bias of 0.16 Log IU/mL and 0.14 Log IU/mL, respectively. Clinical plasma specimen testing comparing Alinity m EBV with cobas EBV and RealTi m e EBV had r of 0.974 and 0.956, and mean bias of 0.09 Log IU/mL and 0.47 Log IU/mL, respectively. Alinity m BKV testing of plasma and urine specimens compared with cobas BKV demonstrated r of 0.953 and 0.932, and mean bias of -0.12 Log IU/mL and -0.15 Log IU/mL, respectively. These results support the utility of the three Alinity m assays in the management of transplant recipients. Importance : CMV, EBV and BKV viruses can cause post-transplant complications. The viral load for these viruses are monitored as part of transplant recipient management. This study provides insights to the clinical performance of the Alinity m CMV, EBV, and BKV assays compared to other widely utlized transplant assays.