Transplant Transmitted Infections

For certain health conditions, transplantation of solid organs, tissues, or cells from a donor to a recipient is often the only cure.

End-stage organ failure is estimated to affect more than six million people worldwide.¹ Advancements in surgical techniques, immunosuppression, donor–recipient matching, and antimicrobial agents have all contributed to increase patient success during transplant procedures.²

However, complications due to infection after transplantation are one of the main causes of post-operative morbidity and mortality— including rejection or loss of the graft or the transplant, among other challenges.³

Due to high demand for organs and cells, every potential donor should be considered. However, this can open the possibility of transmitting infections and to a lesser extent malignancy, from the donor organ to the immunosuppressed recipient, possibly affecting long-term organ function.⁴

Addressing this requires an appropriate assessment of the potential risks of infections pre-transplantation (including the use of donations testing positive for treatable infections) to ensure a successful graft.

Immunosuppressive regimes are critical in controlling organ rejection but can increase the susceptibility of patients to certain infections.⁵ Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major cause of infections post-transplant, with incidence varying by transplant type, donor-recipient match, and immunosuppressive regimen. Without prophylaxis, CMV rates are as high as 50-75% in lung/heart-lung transplants.⁶ Other notable pathogens include BK virus (BKV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), Toxoplasma gondii (Toxo), human Adenovirus (hADV) and, more recently, SARS-CoV-2.^7-9

Pre- and post-transplantation laboratory testing is critical to making the most out of every donation and to ensuring patients get the life-saving surgeries they need.

Roche’s robust portfolio of transplant screening, infection monitoring, and therapeutic drug monitoring assays is designed to support you in giving patients the best chance at a second chance.

Across the diagnostic continuum of transplant donors and recipients, Roche offers a comprehensive range of serological and molecular tests that cover 80% of the most common infections.

• Highly specific and sensitive assays minimize unnecessary discarding of transplants and ensure safe transplantations
• Traceability of viral load results allows for convenient patient follow-up

To optimize infection management, Roche’s fully automated systems can run multiple tests from a single sample, delivering trusted results quickly.

• Fully automated workflows reduce the potential for human error
• Standardized processes ensure predictable turnaround times
• Reproducible results allow for confident decision-making

Protecting patients means making the most of every donation. With a robust portfolio of reliable testing solutions, to ensure that the gift of life is safely delivered.