Bone marrow engraftment analysis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Bone marrow engraftment (BME) analysis of allogeneic bone marrow transplant (allo-BMT) patients can detect residual recipient cells that survive the conditioning regimen. The results of BME analysis are useful for therapeutic decisions, including changing of immunosuppression or implementation of adjuvant therapies. The clinical laboratory can provide sensitive and quantitative assessment of BME using PCR amplification of STR loci. Although BME analysis is complex, the clinical significance for allo-BMT patients warrants the effort to develop, validate, and perform BME analysis in support of the allo-BMT service.