Performance evaluation of the high-throughput quantitative Alinity m Epstein-Barr virus assay

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and reactivation are associated with increased risk for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) in transplant recipients with the development of PTLD occurring predominantly within a year of transplant. Quantitative PCR for EBV is used to monitor the viral load of EBV with a negative result as a good negative predictor of PTLD. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) with high sensitivity and specificity are available on fully automated high-throughput instruments to provide accurate quantitation and improve test result turn-around time. This study evaluates the analytical and clinical performance of one such NAAT, the Alinity m EBV assay.