Description CMV Tetramer Test

Progressive cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections pose a major threat to transplant recipients. CD8 T cells are considered as the major player to control cytomegalovirus viremia and sufficient levels of CMV-specific CD8 T cells are found to protect against cytomegalovirus disease^1,2.

Current assays based on PCR and antigen-detection are capable of analysing the viral burden and 
detect a CMV-reactivation, however, any immunoreactivtity against cytomegalovirus (CMV) cannot be assessed.

The CMV Tetramer Test provides for the first time a ready-to-use kit to quantify the number of CMV-specific CD8 T cells, thus helping the clinician to assess patients with high risk to develop CMV disease.

Assay Features:

• Standardized and CE-certified ready-to-use staining kit (performance time about 2h)
• Direct analysis of whole blood
• Highly specific and sensitive 
detection of CMV-specific CD8 
T cells with tetramer
• Combination of well characterized immunodominant cytomegalovirus (CMV) peptides and HLA-types (A1, A2, B7)
• Determination of the absolute numbers of CMV-specific CD8 T cells and the percentage CD4 and CD8 T cells.
• Kit contains all necessary compounds including a negative 
control
• Easy and economic procedure based on flow cytometry achieving quick results at low costs with high accuracy and precision

Expected benefits of monitoring the CMV specific CD8 T cell number^1-5:

• The test allows the clinician to assess the immune status of the patient and identifies patients at risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease.
• It helps the clinician to reduce the amount of toxic and expensive antiviral drugs in the treatment of patients with a good CMV-specific immune response.

References:
1) Gratama & Cornelissen, Clin. Appl. Immun.Rev. 2001
2) Moss & Khan, Hum. Immun. 2004
3) Cwynarski et al. Blood 2001
4) Gratama et al. Blood 2001 5) Gratama et al., Cytometry B Clin. Cytom. 2008

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