Post-Transplant Chimerism Analysis

Chimerism analysis is one part of the monitoring process for bone marrow transplant patients. The pre-transplant chimerism analysis of both donor and recipient is necessary in order to evaluate for the presence of hematopoietic microchimerism in patients at various time points subsequent to allogeneic bone marrow transplant. Hematopoietic microchimerism will be determined by PCR analysis using a panel of highly-polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) markers. DNA will be extracted from the recipient’s peripheral blood cells or bone marrow. The number of alleles in the profile established by the STR panel at the time of the pre-transplant chimerism analysis will determine the complexity of the post-transplant chimerism analysis. Screen-informative STRs from post-transplant recipient samples will be quantified to determine the percent of hematopoietic microchimerism in the patient.

Indications for Testing

Bone marrow transplant recipient

Sample Requirements

2 – 3 mL (children) or 3 – 4 mL (adults) whole blood in purple top EDTA tube.
1 – 2 mL (children) or 2 – 3 mL (adults) bone marrow in purple top EDTA tube.

Sample Handling

Blood samples stored overnight should be refrigerated or kept cold. Blood samples should never be frozen. Specimens being sent from outside facilities should be packaged with a cold pack according to standard medical safety practices. The specimen should be shipped by overnight priority (scheduled to arrive by Friday morning at the latest).

Shipping Address

Center for Human Genetics Laboratory
10524 Euclid Avenue, Sixth Floor
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-983-1134

For local samples, please call Client Service (216-844-5227) to arrange for sample pick-up.

Turnaround Time

Three to six days

CPT codes

Post-transplant chimerism: 81267

Please submit a completed Hematology/Oncology Specimens requisition for each sample.