Comparative Analysis of Replication-Competent Vector Quantification: Whole Blood vs. PBMCs in Gene Therapy Monitoring

This study compares replication-competent lentiviral vector (RCL) quantification using whole blood versus peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for gene therapy safety monitoring. Both methods showed strong linearity and accuracy, but whole blood demonstrated higher assay sensitivity (1 copy/µg vs. 9 copies/µg) and faster, simpler sample handling. PBMCs showed better precision. Overall, whole blood presents a practical, less invasive alternative to PBMCs for monitoring RCL in clinical trials, balancing efficiency with reliable detection performance.