May 2024- For organ transplant recipients, life post-transplant involves a delicate balance between invasive monitoring and immunosuppression to reduce the risk of rejection, both of which may carry complications. Now, a simple, urine-based assay that detects the CXCL10 chemokine may make care more convenient and less invasive for the nearly 250,000 Americans living with a kidney transplant.

Thermo Fisher Scientific One Lambda Laboratories, a CLIA facility in Fishers, Ind., has introduced a new CXCL10 testing service, which allows for non-invasive urine sample collection and testing, with results available in as little as 24 hours, providing valuable information faster than currently used tests. Recent research in Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation outlines how elevated urinary CXCL10 levels associate with inflammation and early kidney transplant rejection.

“Current methods of post-transplant monitoring can represent a significant financial and physical burden for many transplant patients. In keeping with our commitment to health equity, we believe this lower-cost, non-invasive testing option can expand access to care and improve patient adherence, since the sample can be collected at any local clinic,” says Chris McCloskey, director, Transplant Services, Thermo Fisher Scientific.

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Moreover, Thermo Fisher’s CXCL10 testing service may supplement current standards of care that may lack specificity or sensitivity, which may lead to unnecessary and invasive biopsies, or produce results too late to influence care, making treating rejection more difficult. This can lead to an aggressive immunosuppression regime, increasing patient morbidity and mortality risks.

“We’ve heard directly from patients that invasive biopsies and aggressive immunosuppression to prevent rejection can be incredibly detrimental to their physical and mental health. That’s why we’re proud to be at the forefront of industry, leading the way with new non-invasive tests designed to improve patient outcomes and quality of life throughout the transplant journey,” adds Tina Liedtky, president, Transplant Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific.