Overview

Advances in molecular diagnostics has had a significant impact on the  prevention, diagnosis and management of infectious complications of solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell  transplantation. Prevention strategies for cytomegalovirus ( CMV) , Epstein- Barr virus ( EBV) and BK virus disease are often dependent on monitoring using  quantiativie nucleic acid amplification assays that measure DNA.  An update on the development  of international reference standards for CMV, EBV and BK DNA  and their impact on inter-assay result harmonization will be provided.  Using cases as examples, how highly multiplexed PCR panels have revolutionized the diagnosis of respiratory and enteric pathogens in the transplant setting  will be illustrated.   Technologies such as MALDI-TOF MS and advances in nucleic acid sequencing have lead to more rapid accurate and cost-effective identification of cultured bacteria and fungi as well as rapid detection of antimicrobial  resistance patterns.  How these technologies have impacted clinical care in the transplant setting will be discussed.

Objectives

1.  To obtain an update on  initiatives  related to  the development  and evaluation of international reference standards for quantitative detection of cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus and BK virus DNA and their impact on inter-assay result harmonization.

2. To understand how highly multiplexed PCR panels have revolutionized the diagnosis of respiratory and enteric pathogens

3.  To understand how new technologies such as MALD-TOF MS,seqencing including next generation sequencing and microfluidics is improving our ability to rapidly identify pathogens and pathogen resistance patterns and is making