BloodCenter of Wisconsin’s Diagnostic Laboratories has announced the availability of an innovative test that will allow physicians to directly gauge the success of allogeneic bone marrow transplantations of sickle cell disease patients. The Erythroid Chimerism test, which monitors erythroid lineage chimerism, will also provide physicians with actionable information to guide patient care.
“Efficient and accurate monitoring for post-transplant therapy is critical in order to properly manage patient care,” said Daniel Bellissimo, Ph.D., director of BloodCenter’s Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory. “The addition of BloodCenter’s Erythroid Chimerism test reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing patient care by providing physicians worldwide with leading-edge testing in the area of molecular testing.”
Sickle cell disease is a common and severe autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin gene, which affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States. In SCD patients with severe clinical symptoms, allogeneic bone marrow transplantations can be used to replace the blood cell producing capacity, potentially curing them of the disease.
BloodCenter of Wisconsin, based in Milwaukee, is a not-for-profit organization that specializes in blood services, organ, tissue and marrow donation, diagnostic testing, medical services and leading-edge research.
