Dr. Caliendo’s research has focused on the development of molecular diagnostic tests for the detection and quantification of infectious diseases and assessment of their clinical utility; molecular testing in transplantation; and standardization of viral load testing. The laboratory has participated in numerous clinical studies assessing newer diagnostics for infectious diseases and completed multi-site clinical studies assessing source of variability in CMV viral load assays. Recent and ongoing studies including detection and quantification of DNA Viruses in plasma from transplant patients using a next-generation sequencing assay; studies of commutability among assays for quantification of BKV, EBV and CMV from plasma; evaluation of a new CMV viral load assay; and performance evaluation of molecular assays for the detection of respiratory viruses in nasopharyngeal and BAL specimens. For CFAR investigators, the laboratory provides molecular testing for HIV RNA and DNA, as well as an array of opportunistic pathogens such as HBV, HCV, CMV, and STIs. The laboratory is also capable of developing and validating molecular tests on unusual specimen types, such as dried blood spots, hemaspots, genital secretions, as well as providing consultation, protocol design, and testing services for local and national multi-center clinical studies.
Keywords: Molecular testing, diagnostics, CMV, HIV, viral load testing
Key Publications:
Hayden RT, Preiksaitis J, Tong Y, Pang X, Sun Y, Cook L, Pounds S, Fryer J and Caliendo AM. Commutability of the 1st WHO international standard for human cytomegalovirus. J Clin Micro. 2015 Oct;53(10):3325-33. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01495-15. Epub 2015 Aug 12.
Hayden RT, Gu Z, Sam SS, Sun Y, Tang L, Pounds S and Caliendo AM. Comparative Evaluation of three commercial quantitative cytomegalovirus standards using digital and real-time PCR. J Clin Micro. 2015 May;53(5):1500-5. doi: 10.1128/JCM.03375-14. Epub 2015 Feb 18.
Sam S, Kurpewski J, Cu-Uvin S and Caliendo AM. Evaluation of performance characteristics of the Aptima HIV-1 Quant Dx Assay for the Detection and Quantitation of Human Immunodeficiency (HIV) Virus Type 1 in Plasma and CVL Samples. J Clin Micro. 2016 Apr;54(4):1036-41. doi: 10.1128/JCM.03289-15. Epub 2016 Feb 3.
Tang L, Sun Y, Buelow D, Gu Z, Caliendo AM, Pounds S and Hayden R. Quantitative Assessment of Commutability for Clinical Viral Load Testing Using a Digital PCR-based Reference Standard. J Clin Micro. 2016 Jun;54(6):1616-23. doi: 10.1128/JCM.03346-15. Epub 2016 Apr 13.
Preiksaitis JK, Hayden RT, Tong Y, Pang XL, Fryer JF, Heath AB, Cook L, Petrich AK, Yu B and Caliendo AM. Are we there yet? Impact of the 1st International Standard for Cytomegalovirus DNA on the Harmonization of Results Reported on Plasma Samples. Clin Infectious Diseases. 2016 Sep 1;63(5):583-9. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw370. Epub 2016 Jun 15.
Hayden RT, Gu Z, Sam SS, Sun Y, Tang L, Pounds S, and Caliendo AM. Comparative Performance of Reagents and Platforms for Quantitation of Cytomegalovirus DNA by Digital PCR. J Clin Micro. 2016 Oct;54(10):2602-8. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01474-16. Epub 2016 Aug 17.
Hayden RT, Sun Y, Tang L, Procop GW, Hillyard DR, Pinsky BA, Young SA and Caliendo AM. Progress in Quantitative Viral Load Testing: Variability and Impact of the WHO Quantitative International Standards. J Clin Micro. 2017 Feb;55(2):423-430. doi: 10.1128/JCM.02044-16. Epub 2016 Nov 16.
Clancy CJ, Pappas PG, Vazquez J, Judson MA, Kontoyiannis DP, Thompson GR, Garey KW, Reboli A, Greenberg RN, Apewokin S, Lyon GM, Ostrosky-Zeichner L, Wu AHB, Tobin E, Nguyen MH and Caliendo AM. Detecting infections rapidly and easily for Candidemia Trial-Part 2 (DIRECT2): A prospective, multicenter study of the T2Candida panel. Clin Infect Diseases. 2018 Feb 9. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix1095.
Sam SS, Caliendo AM, Ingersoll, J, Abdul-Ali D, Hill, C, Kraft CS. Evaluation of Performance Characteristics of Panther Fusion Assays for the Detection of Respiratory Viruses from Nasopharyngeal and Lower Respiratory Tract Specimens. J Clin Microbiol. 2018 Jul 26;56(8). pii: e00787-18. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00787-18. Print 2018 Aug.
Cook L, Starr K, Boonyaratanakornkit J, Hayden R and Caliendo AM. Does size matter? Comparison of extraction yield for different-sized DNA fragments by 7 different routine and 4 new circulating cell-free extraction methods. J Clin Microbiol. 2018 Nov 27;56(12). pii: e01061-18. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01061-18.
Laboratory Location and Contact Information:
Soya Sam, PhD
Angela M Caliendo, MD, PhD
14 Third Street
RISE Building lab
The Miriam hospital
Providence, RI 02906
Phone Number: 401-793-3472, 401-444-5344,
Email: ssam2@lifespan.org; acaliendo@lifespan.org
Additional links of interest: