--- title: "Improving Patient Outcomes: Why Molecular Testing Matters for Post-Transplant Care" description: Infectious complications are a significant concern for patients after solid organ transplants. Molecular testing is a vital tool for the prevention of these complications. Continue reading... image: https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/hubfs/0.%20Stock%20Images/Molecular/Doctor%20with%20Transplant%20Organ%20Cooler.jpg --- [![LGC Logo-cropped-1](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/0.%20Logos/CDx/LGC%20Logo-cropped-1.png?width=150&height=149&name=LGC%20Logo-cropped-1.png "LGC Logo-cropped-1")](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/) - Our Brands - [Maine Standards](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/our-brands/maine-standards) - [SeraCare](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/our-brands/seracare) - [Technopath Clinical Diagnostics](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/our-brands/technopath-clinical-diagnostics) - [The Native Antigen Company](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/our-brands/native-antigen-company) - About - [LGC Clinical Diagnostics](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/about/lgc-clinical-diagnostics) - [Leadership Team](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/about/leadership-team) - [Careers](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/about/careers) - [News & Events](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/about/news-events) - [Blog](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com) - [Customer Stories](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/customer-testimonials) [![Contact](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20300467/95788200-ce47-49d2-ade8-6c90eedf1178.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20300467/95788200-ce47-49d2-ade8-6c90eedf1178) menu close - [Homepage](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/) - Our Brands - [Maine Standards](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/our-brands/maine-standards) - [SeraCare](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/our-brands/seracare) - [Technopath Clinical Diagnostics](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/our-brands/technopath-clinical-diagnostics) - [The Native Antigen Company](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/our-brands/native-antigen-company) - About - [LGC Clinical Diagnostics](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/about/lgc-clinical-diagnostics) - [Leadership Team](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/about/leadership-team) - [Careers](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/about/careers) - [News & Events](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/about/news-events) - [Blog](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com) - [Contact](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/contact) ![](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/hubfs/0.%20Stock%20Images/Molecular/Doctor%20with%20Transplant%20Organ%20Cooler.jpg) # Improving Patient Outcomes: Why Molecular Testing Matters for Post-Transplant Care Published by [Eric Morreale, PhD](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/author/eric-morreale-phd) on January 20, 2025 at 12:03 PM Successful transplant maintenance is a delicate balance of immunosuppression that reduces rejection risks without exposing patients to a greater risk of infectious diseases. Since infectious disease is one of the primary causes of morbidity and mortality in post-transplant patients, consistent testing is vital for confident clinical decision-making and preventing rejection. Molecular testing has become the standard to detect and monitor viral infections in transplant patients due to its ability to quantify viral load, capacity to handle a high number of samples, and quick turn-around-time. Assessing viral load through a series of quantitative tests after transplantation can detect infectious syndromes, monitor those infections, and confirm response to therapy. Quantitative molecular assays’ sensitivity provides clinicians with reliable values and key information to determine when to start, adjust, and end treatment. International standards for some quantitative assays and the development of viral load monitoring and disease management guidelines have increased standardization and enriched the quality of care. **Monitoring provides critical data** Three latent DNA viruses that can reactivate are of concern for transplant patients: Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), and BK polyomavirus (BKV). Each can cause disease or transplant rejection. Serial monitoring for CMV, EBV, and BKV is crucial to transplant management because of its role in early detection and intervention for high-risk transplant recipients. Numerous studies support the use of quantitative molecular testing, particularly in determining therapy timing and effectiveness. - Response to CMV treatment typically takes seven or more days, depending on the patient’s risk level. For high-risk patients, transplant centers may use preventive treatment for three to six months post-transplant and then conduct biweekly or monthly screening for another three to six months.1 - Increases in viral load are associated with EBV-related post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). Tracking EBV DNA viral loads in high-risk patients can show if interventions are working as expected, and if not, it may indicate PTLD. - Between 4% and 8% of kidney transplants fail due to BKV.2 A series of BKV screenings can help determine how and when to adjust immunosuppressants for a greater immune response.   **Ensuring confidence in assay performance** Clinical laboratories play a vital role in the success of transplant programs and the monitoring of transplant-related viruses such as CMV, BKV, and EBV. Growing demand for transplants in the US and worldwide will only increase the need for comprehensive and reliable post-transplant monitoring. Since viral diseases may not have specific clinical manifestations, establishing a diagnosis requires laboratory testing. The time-sensitive nature of monitoring post-transplantation patients requires unwavering confidence in assay performance from an objective assessment of its accuracy. Manufacturer controls are often formulated from the same raw material as the assay calibrators. This will not challenge the assay at lower detection limits, making them less likely to identify assay performance degradation. [Third-party controls](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/the-importance-of-using-third-party-independent-quality-controls) are impartial and usually manufactured in human-based matrices to be patient-like. Third-party controls are uniform, so monitoring and comparing results over time for post-transplantation patients is possible. They identify positive and negative results more accurately and maintain testing compliance and proficiency success. Lab data offers independent and reliable typical values, and considerable peer data is available from third-party suppliers. **Learn more about molecular testing and post-transplant management** Take advantage of our team’s expertise in designing and manufacturing effective quality control monitoring tools.  [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20300467/de482ec9-834f-443b-a7ca-ddc6645f21cb.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20300467/de482ec9-834f-443b-a7ca-ddc6645f21cb) Download our white paper: *Enhancing the Care of Transplant Recipients with Infectious Disease Testing* *[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20300467/ee42bb45-4f91-42f8-b17e-6a88f5c7b151.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20300467/ee42bb45-4f91-42f8-b17e-6a88f5c7b151)*   | SeraCare’s quality measurement tools to support molecular transplant assays: - [ACCURUN®️ 350 CMV DNA Positive Control](https://www.seracare.com/ACCURUN-350-CMV-DNA-Positive-Control-2020-0162/) is a full-process, low-positive control designed to detect subtle performance changes at the lower limits of detection. This product contains cultured virus that is reactive for CMV DNA that is diluted in defibrinated plasma. - [AccuSpanTM CMV DNA Linearity Panel](https://www.seracare.com/AccuSpan-CMV-DNA-Linearity-Panel-2410-0174/) is a nine-member panel comprising seven members representing serial log dilutions of cultured CMV virus, with established CMV DNA reactivity in CMV DNA negative diluent. - [AccuSpanTM BKV Linearity Panel](https://www.seracare.com/AccuSpan-BKV-Linearity-Panel-2410-0344/) is a seven-member panel comprising six members representing serial log dilutions of cultured BK virus, with established BKV DNA reactivity in BKV DNA negative diluent. - [AccuSpan™ EBV Linearity Panel](https://www.seracare.com/AccuSpan-EBV-Linearity-Panel-2410-0345/) is an eight-member panel (1 vial per member, 1.4 mL per vial) consisting of seven members representing serial log dilutions of cultured EBV virus with established reactivity for EBV DNA in EBV DNA negative diluent. | | --- |   **Sources** 1. [Infection in organ transplantation](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1600613522249284#:~:text=The%20prevention%2C%20diagnosis%2C%20and%20management,net%20state%20of%20immune%20suppression.) 2. [BKV, CMV, and EBV Interactions and their Effect on Graft Function One Year Post-Renal Transplantation: Results from a Large Multi-Centre Study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30072213/) **Additional references** [Viral diagnostics](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7115029/) [Molecular immune monitoring in kidney transplant rejection: a state-of-the-art review](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10477600/) [Diagnosis and Monitoring of Viral Infections in the Transplant Population](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196439921000568)   Tags: [CMV](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/tag/cmv), [Molecular Diagnostics](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/tag/molecular-diagnostics), [Quality Control](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/tag/quality-control), [transplant](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/tag/transplant) [Back to Blog](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com) ## Related Articles ## [Managing Transplant Patient Health with Molecular Diagnostics](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/transplant-diagnostics) Infectious complications are a significant concern for patients after solid organ transplants... [Read More](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/transplant-diagnostics) ## [Molecular Diagnostics - Part 3: Accuracy and Precision](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/mol-diagnostics-3) We continue our series on molecular diagnostics. Previous articles covered:what you need to verify... [Read More](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/mol-diagnostics-3) ## [Molecular Diagnostics - Part 4: Reportable Range and Reference Interval Best Practices](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/mol-diagnostics-4) Our series on molecular diagnostics continues with a look at best practices for two performance... [Read More](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/mol-diagnostics-4) [![LGC Clinical Diagnostics](https://blog.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LGC_ClinicalDiagnostics_January2023/images/footer-logo.svg "LGC Clinical Diagnostics")](https://www.lgcclinicaldiagnostics.com/) LGC Clinical Diagnostics is part of [LGC Group](https://www.lgcgroup.com). 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