A Primer on Chimerism Analysis: A Straightforward, Thorough Review

Abstract

Short tandem repeat (STR) analysis to assess chimerism is a critical aspect of routine care particularly in patients facing stem cell transplants but is also relevant in other clinical scenarios. STR analysis provides a means to assess donor and recipient cellular origins in a patient, and, as such, can inform engraftment, rejection, and relapse status in stem cell transplant recipients. In this review of STR testing, the most commonly used method to assess chimerism, its background, procedural details, and clinical utility are discussed.

Keywords: GVHD; NGS; STR; chimerism; engraftment; rejection; relapse; short tandem repeat; stem cell transplant; transplant.