Quantification of BK viral load

Abstract

BK virus (BKV) is a nonenveloped, double-stranded DNA virus of the polyomavirus family that primarily affects immunocompromised people. BKV may cause nephropathy in renal transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, resulting in renal dysfunction and, possibly, graft loss. Monitoring of BK viral load in blood and urine samples has been used as a surrogate marker of BKV nephropathy (BKVN). Although real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the method of choice, currently, there is no standardized BK viral load assay. Different PCR assays vary significantly in sample types, DNA extraction method, PCR primers and probes, and reference materials used to generate a standard curve. These differences can affect the accuracy, specificity, and dynamic ranges of various real-time PCR assays.