Newly developed oral bioavailable EHMT2 inhibitor as a potential epigenetic therapy for Prader-Willi syndrome.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is the prototypic genomic disorder resulting from deficiency of paternally expressed genes in the human chromosome 15q11-q13 region. The unique molecular mechanism involving epigenetic modifications renders PWS as the most attractive candidate to explore a proof-of-concept of epigenetic therapy in humans. The premise is that epigenetic modulations could reactivate the repressed PWS candidate genes from the maternal chromosome and offer therapeutic benefit. Our prior study identifies an EHMT2/G9a inhibitor, UNC0642, that reactivates the expression of PWS genes via reduction of H3K9me2. However, low brain permeability and poor oral bioavailability of UNC0642 preclude its advancement into translational studies in humans. In this study, a newly developed inhibitor, MS152, modified from the structure of UNC0642, has better brain penetration and greater potency and selectivity against EHMT2/G9a. MS152 reactivated maternally silenced PWS genes in PWS patient fibroblasts and in brain and liver tissues of PWS mouse models. Importantly, the molecular efficacy of oral administration is comparable with the intraperitoneal route. MS152 treatment in newborns ameliorates the perinatal lethality and poor growth, maintaining reactivation in a PWS mouse model at postnatal 90 days. Our findings provide strong support for MS152 as a first-in-class inhibitor to advance the epigenetic therapy of PWS in humans.

CRYAB stop-loss variant causes rare syndromic dilated cardiomyopathy with congenital cataract: expanding the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of alpha-B crystallinopathy.

Missense mutations in the alpha-B crystallin gene (CRYAB) have been reported in desmin-related myopathies with or without cardiomyopathy and have also been reported in families with only a cataract phenotype. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disorder with a highly heterogeneous genetic etiology involving more than 60 causative genes, hindering genetic diagnosis. In this study, we performed whole genome sequencing on 159 unrelated patients with DCM and identified an unusual stop-loss pathogenic variant in NM_001289808.2:c.527A>G of CRYAB in one patient. The mutant alpha-B crystallin protein is predicted to have an extended strand with addition of 19 amino acid residues, p.(Ter176TrpextTer19), which may contribute to aggregation and increased hydrophobicity of alpha-B crystallin. The proband, diagnosed with DCM at age 32, had a history of bilateral congenital cataracts but had no evidence of myopathy or associated symptoms. He also has a 10-year-old child diagnosed with bilateral congenital cataracts with the same CRYAB variant. This study expands the mutational spectrum of CRYAB and deepens our understanding of the complex phenotypes of alpha-B crystallinopathies.

Overcoming challenges associated with identifying FBN1 deep intronic variants through whole-genome sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Marfan syndrome (MFS), caused by pathogenic variants of FBN1 (fibrillin-1), is a systemic connective tissue disorder with variable phenotypes and treatment responsiveness depending on the variant. However, a significant number of individuals with MFS remain genetically unexplained. In this study, we report novel pathogenic intronic variants in FBN1 in two unrelated families with MFS. METHODS: We evaluated subjects with suspected MFS from two unrelated families using Sanger sequencing or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification of FBN1 and/or panel-based next-generation sequencing. As no pathogenic variants were identified, whole-genome sequencing was performed. Identified variants were analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR and targeted sequencing of FBN1 mRNA harvested from peripheral blood or skin fibroblasts obtained from affected probands. RESULTS: We found causative deep intronic variants, c.6163+1484A>T and c.5788+36C>A, in FBN1. The splicing analysis revealed an insertion of in-frame or out-of-frame intronic sequences of the FBN1 transcript predicted to alter function of calcium-binding epidermal growth factor protein domain. Family members carrying c.6163+1484A>T had high systemic scores including prominent skeletal features and aortic dissection with lesser aortic dilatation. Family members carrying c.5788+36C>A had more severe aortic root dilatation without aortic dissection. Both families had ectopia lentis. CONCLUSION: Variable penetrance of the phenotype and negative genetic testing in MFS families should raise the possibility of deep intronic FBN1 variants and the need for additional molecular studies. This study expands the mutation spectrum of FBN1 and points out the importance of intronic sequence analysis and the need for integrative functional studies in MFS diagnosis.

Clinical Manifestations and Genetic Analysis of 5 Korean Choroideremia Patients Initially Diagnosed With Retinitis Pigmentosa.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical findings of choroideremia patients and perform genetic analysis by whole-exome sequencing (WES). METHODS: A total of 94 patients initially diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at another hospital, and who visited our hospital for genetic analysis by WES, were included in the study, along with 64 family members. All subjects underwent comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation, including best-corrected visual acuity, slit lamp examination, fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fluorescein angiography (FAG), visual field (VF), electroretinogram (ERG), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: In six male patients with suspected choroideremia, extensive retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and severe loss of choroid were observed in the fundus, but not in the macula. CHM gene mutation was confirmed in five patients. A novel single nucleotide variant at a splice site was observed in one patient. OCT showed marked thinning of the outernuclear layer and choroid, except in the macula. FAF showed a small area of hyperfluorescence in the posterior pole. In addition, characteristic interlaminar bridges were observed in four patients. On FAG, hypofluorescence was seen up to the far-peripheral retina in five patients. CONCLUSION: Of the 94 patients initially diagnosed with RP, CHM mutation was identified in five (5.3%) by WES. Choroideremia should be considered as a differential diagnosis of RP. WES would be useful for identifying the causes of hereditary retinal disease.

A Rare Case of Essential Thrombocythemia with Coexisting JAK2 and MPL Driver Mutations.

Philadelphia-negative (Ph-) classical myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) include polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis. Somatic driver mutations in the JAK2, CALR, and MPL genes serve as major diagnostic criteria of the Ph- MPNs and these mutations occur in a mutually exclusive manner. In this report, we describe the first case of ET harboring double mutations in JAK2 V617F and MPL. For MPL, the patient had multiple clones of MPL mutations: c.1543_1546delinsAGGG (p.Trp515_Gln516delinsArgGlu) and c.1546C>G (p.Gln516Glu). The JAK2 V617F allele burden in our patient is very low (4%) compared to the relatively high (17%-78%) allele frequency of MPL mutations. The low JAK2 mutant burden might be explained by preexisting clonal hematopoiesis before overt signs of MPNs, followed by the acquisition of a second oncogenic mutation of CALR or MPL leading to the MPN phenotype. This highlights that screening for a second driver mutation should be considered in patients with a low JAK2 mutant burden by reporting a 57-year-old Korean man with ET.

Rare Cases of PLOD1-Related Kyphoscoliotic Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in a Korean Family Identified by Next Generation Sequencing.

Kyphoscoliotic Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (kEDS) is an autosomal recessive connective tissue disorder characterized by muscular hypotonia, hyperextensible skin, skin fragility, joint hypermobility, and progressive kyphoscoliosis. The disorder results from a deficiency of the enzyme collagen lysyl hydroxylase 1 due to mutations in the gene PLOD1. We describe the rare cases of kEDS in Korean siblings with two novel compound heterozygous variants, c.926_934del (p.Leu309_Leu311del) and c.2170_2172del (p.Phe724del) in the PLOD1 gene. They had congenital hypotonia, joint laxity, skin hyperextensibility, Marfanoid habitus, high myopia and atrophic scarring. The younger sibling had an early-onset progressive kyphoscoliosis, while the older sibling showed mild scoliosis during childhood. Intrafamilial variability of the clinical severity and age of kyphoscoliosis onset observed in our cases.

Mutations in DDX58, which encodes RIG-I, cause atypical Singleton-Merten syndrome.

Singleton-Merten syndrome (SMS) is an autosomal-dominant multi-system disorder characterized by dental dysplasia, aortic calcification, skeletal abnormalities, glaucoma, psoriasis, and other conditions. Despite an apparent autosomal-dominant pattern of inheritance, the genetic background of SMS and information about its phenotypic heterogeneity remain unknown. Recently, we found a family affected by glaucoma, aortic calcification, and skeletal abnormalities. Unlike subjects with classic SMS, affected individuals showed normal dentition, suggesting atypical SMS. To identify genetic causes of the disease, we performed exome sequencing in this family and identified a variant (c.1118A>C [p.Glu373Ala]) of DDX58, whose protein product is also known as RIG-I. Further analysis of DDX58 in 100 individuals with congenital glaucoma identified another variant (c.803G>T [p.Cys268Phe]) in a family who harbored neither dental anomalies nor aortic calcification but who suffered from glaucoma and skeletal abnormalities. Cys268 and Glu373 residues of DDX58 belong to ATP-binding motifs I and II, respectively, and these residues are predicted to be located closer to the ADP and RNA molecules than other nonpathogenic missense variants by protein structure analysis. Functional assays revealed that DDX58 alterations confer constitutive activation and thus lead to increased interferon (IFN) activity and IFN-stimulated gene expression. In addition, when we transduced primary human trabecular meshwork cells with c.803G>T (p.Cys268Phe) and c.1118A>C (p.Glu373Ala) mutants, cytopathic effects and a significant decrease in cell number were observed. Taken together, our results demonstrate that DDX58 mutations cause atypical SMS manifesting with variable expression of glaucoma, aortic calcification, and skeletal abnormalities without dental anomalies.

Effect of the Standardization of Diagnostic Tests on the Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Fasting Glucose.

BACKGROUND: Without standardization of medical laboratory's testing practices, there is an increase in false diagnoses when relying on test results. However, the effect of test standardization is difficult to assess numerically. This study's purpose is to quantify the effect of the standardization level of a laboratory on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG). METHODS: Laboratories were classified into three levels: 'highly-standardized laboratory,' 'basically-standardized laboratory,' and 'non-standardized laboratory.' Based on the results of Korean External Quality Assessment Scheme (KEQAS), the cutoff values for diagnosis of DM and IFG were recalculated, given false positive and false negative rates. RESULTS: The prevalence of DM and IFG in the population as a whole was estimated using the 2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) database. When the prevalence of DM from KNHANES was 11.88% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.59%-13.17%), the proportion with a systematic false error ranged from 10.91% (95% CI, 9.65%-12.17%) to 13.09% (95% CI, 11.74%-14.45%). The prevalence of IFG varied from 13.59% (95% CI, 12.25%-14.91%) to 40.49% (95% CI, 38.54%-42.43%), in contrast to 24.58% (95% CI, 22.85%-26.31%) of the reference value. The prevalence of DM and IFG tended to be over- and under-estimated more as the laboratory standardization level became lower, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study proved that standardization of clinical laboratory tests is an important factor affecting the prevalence estimation of national disease statistics based on the simulation using KNHANES data.

Identification and characterization of NF1 splicing mutations in Korean patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by NF1 mutations. Although mutations affecting mRNA splicing are the most common molecular defects in NF1, few studies have analyzed genomic DNA (gDNA)-mRNA correlations in Korean NF1 patients. In this study, we investigated 28 unrelated NF1 patients who showed splicing alterations in reverse transcription-PCR of NF1 mRNA and identified 24 different NF1 splicing mutations, 9 of which were novel. These mutations can be categorized into five groups: exon skipping resulting from mutations at authentic 5' and 3' splice sites (type I, 46%), cryptic exon inclusion caused by deep intronic mutations (type II, 8%), creation of new splice sites causing loss of exonic sequences (type III, 8%), activation of cryptic splice sites due to disruption of authentic splice sites (type IV, 25%) and exonic sequence alterations causing exon skipping (type V, 13%). In total, 42% of all splicing mutations did not involve the conserved AG/GT dinucleotides of the splice sites, making it difficult to identify the correct mutation sites at the gDNA level. These results add to the mutational spectrum of NF1 and further elucidate the gDNA-mRNA correlations of NF1 mutations.

Asp58Ala is the predominant mutation of the TTR gene in Korean patients with hereditary transthyretin-related amyloidosis.

Hereditary transthyretin (TTR)-related amyloidosis (ATTR) seems to be a rare autosomal-dominant inherited form of systemic amyloidosis. Studies indicate considerable heterogeneity in the disease's presentation and genotype; however, there is little data from Korea, where the prevalence of hereditary ATTR is very low. In this study, we investigated the phenotypic and genotypic spectra of hereditary ATTR in Korea. Direct sequencing analysis was performed to detect TTR gene mutations in amyloidosis patients whose results of TTR immunohistochemical staining were positive or equivocal. Clinical presentation was categorized as exclusively cardiac, exclusively neurologic, or mixed phenotype. Of 12 genetic tests performed, seven were positive for TTR mutations. D58A (c.173A>C) was the most common mutation in this study (57%, 4/7). The majority of those patients with hereditary ATTR had the mixed phenotype (86%, 6/7). The patients with D58A mutation had older ages of disease onset (median, 61 years vs. 42 years; P = 0.08), and a higher incidence of gastrointestinal involvement (75% vs. 0%; P = 0.03) than those with other identified TTR mutations. A significant male predominance was also noted in this study (P = 0.01).

Frequency and spectrum of actionable pathogenic secondary findings in 196 Korean exomes.

PURPOSE: One of the biggest challenges of exome and genome sequencing in the era of genomic medicine is the identification and reporting of secondary findings. In this study we investigated the frequency and spectrum of actionable pathogenic secondary findings in Korean exomes. METHODS: Data from 196 Korean exomes were screened for variants from a list of 56 genes recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) for return of secondary findings. Identified variants were classified according to the evidence-based guidelines reached by a joint consensus of the ACMG and the Association for Molecular Pathology. RESULTS: Among the 196 exomes, which were from 100 healthy controls and 96 patients with suspected genetic disorders, 11 variants in 13 individuals were found to be pathogenic or likely pathogenic. We estimated that the frequency of actionable pathogenic secondary findings was 7% for the control subjects (7/100) and 6% for the patients with disease (6/96). For one autosomal-recessive disease, four individuals exhibited either one pathogenic or one likely pathogenic variant of the MUTYH gene, leading to a carrier frequency of 2% (4/196). CONCLUSION: Secondary findings are not uncommon in Korean exomes.

Frequency of the moyamoya-related RNF213 p.Arg4810Lys variant in 1,516 Korean individuals.

BACKGROUND: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a progressive steno-occlusive vasculopathy that involves large intracranial arteries accompanied by abnormal collateral vessels. Recently, RNF213 was identified as a susceptibility gene for MMD and p.Arg4810Lys (rs112735431) is the most common variant in East Asian MMD patients. Interestingly, many studies have reported that a certain proportion of the general population in Japan, Korea, and China also has this variant. In this study, we investigated the frequency of this variant and estimated an odds ratio of MMD using two different Korean populations. METHODS: A total of 1,516 anonymous DNA samples, 799 from an umbilical cord blood bank and 717 from routine health-checked adults, were genotyped using targeted Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The p.Arg4810Lys variant was detected at genotype frequencies of 2.25% (18/799; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.43-3.53%) in cord blood samples and 2.65% (19/717; 95% CI, 1.70-4.10%) in adult samples, respectively. This variant showed a strong association with MMD (P < 0.001), giving an odds ratio of 162.7 (95% CI, 65.5-403.9) and 137.8 (95% CI, 55.8-339.9) based on the cord blood and adults samples, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that the RNF213 p.Arg4810Lys variant is not uncommon in the general Korean population and provide reference data for the association of this variant and MMD.

Distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria by multigene sequence-based typing and clinical significance of isolated strains.

Species identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is challenging due to the increasing number of identified NTM species and the lack of standardized testing strategies. The objectives of this study were to investigate the distribution of NTM species recovered from respiratory specimens by multigene sequence-based typing and to evaluate the clinical significance of identified species. Two hundred thirty-two consecutive clinical NTM isolates were subjected to sequencing of multiple genes, including hsp65, rpoB, and 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence. In addition, clinical data from all patients whose specimens had NTM isolates were analyzed to examine clinical virulence and treatment history. Eighteen strains from 227 isolates from 169 patients were successfully identified at the species level by multigene sequence-based typing. Mycobacterium avium complex and M. abscessus complex made up the majority of isolated NTM (88%; 199/227), followed by M. fortuitum complex (4%; 10/227). The pathogenic potential of NTM differs enormously by species, and M. avium complex and M. abscessus complex revealed especially high levels of virulence compared with findings for other NTM species. The results from our work support M. avium complex and M. abscessus complex being the most common NTM species with highly pathogenic potential isolated from clinical respiratory specimens and could be a good resource for molecular epidemiology of NTM species in South Korea.

Evaluation of performance of the Real-Q NTM-ID kit for rapid identification of eight nontuberculous mycobacterial species.

We evaluated a multiplex real-time PCR and melting curve analysis assay (Real-Q NTM-ID kit; Biosewoom, Seoul, South Korea) for the identification of eight common nontuberculous mycobacterial species, using 30 type strains and 230 consecutive clinical isolates. The concordance rate of this assay with multigene sequence-based typing was 97.0% (223/230 isolates).

Genomic technologies for detecting structural variations in hematologic malignancies.

Genomic structural variations in myeloid, lymphoid, and plasma cell neoplasms can provide key diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic information while elucidating the underlying disease biology. Several molecular diagnostic approaches play a central role in evaluating hematological malignancies. Traditional cytogenetic diagnostic assays, such as chromosome banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization, are essential components of the current diagnostic workup that guide clinical care for most hematologic malignancies. However, each assay has inherent limitations, including limited resolution for detecting small structural variations and low coverage, and can only detect alterations in the target regions. Recently, the rapid expansion and increasing availability of novel and comprehensive genomic technologies have led to their use in clinical laboratories for clinical management and translational research. This review aims to describe the clinical relevance of structural variations in hematologic malignancies and introduce genomic technologies that may facilitate personalized tumor characterization and treatment.

WBC YOLO-ViT: 2 Way - 2 stage white blood cell detection and classification with a combination of YOLOv5 and vision transformer.

Accurate detection and classification of white blood cells, otherwise known as leukocytes, play a critical role in diagnosing and monitoring various illnesses. However, conventional methods, such as manual classification by trained professionals, must be revised in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and potential bias. Moreover, applying deep learning techniques to detect and classify white blood cells using microscopic images is challenging owing to limited data, resolution noise, irregular shapes, and varying colors from different sources. This study presents a novel approach integrating object detection and classification for numerous type-white blood cell. We designed a 2-way approach to use two types of images: WBC and nucleus. YOLO (fast object detection) and ViT (powerful image representation capabilities) are effectively integrated into 16 classes. The proposed model demonstrates an exceptional 96.449% accuracy rate in classification.

Prevalence Estimation of the PALB2 Germline Variant in East Asians and Koreans through Population Database Analysis.

PALB2 is a tumor suppressor gene. Heterozygous germline pathogenic variants of PALB2 significantly increase the lifetime risk of breast cancer and moderately increase the risk of ovarian and pancreatic cancers. This study analyzed the estimated prevalence of PALB2 variants globally, focusing on East Asian and Korean populations, where limited data were previously available. We examined 125,748 exomes from the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD), including 9197 East Asians, and additional data from 5305 individuals in the Korean Variant Archive and 1722 in the Korean Reference Genome Database. All PALB2 variants were interpreted according to guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Clinical Genome Resource. The global prevalence of PALB2 variants was 0.18%, with the highest prevalence in Finnish populations (0.41%) and the lowest in Ashkenazi Jewish populations (0.04%). East Asians had a prevalence of 0.09%. By combining data from Korean genome databases and gnomAD totaling 8936 individuals, the overall prevalence of PALB2 variants in the Korean population was determined to be 0.13%. This study is the first comprehensive investigation of PALB2 variant prevalence in East Asians and Koreans using gnomAD and Korean genome databases. These findings provide essential reference data for future research and highlight the importance of region-specific genetic studies that will inform genetic counseling and hereditary cancer risk management.

Enhancing the Reliability of PMP22 Copy Number Variation Detection with an Inherited Peripheral Neuropathy Panel.

The utility of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel could be increased in hereditary peripheral neuropathies, given that the duplication of PMP22 is a major abnormality. In the present study, the analytical performance of an algorithm for detecting PMP22 copy number variation (CNV) from the NGS panel data was evaluated. The NGS panel covers 141 genes, including PMP22 and five genes within 1.5-megabase duplicated region at 17p11.2. CNV calling was performed using a laboratory-developed algorithm. Among the 92 cases subjected to targeted NGS panel from March 2018 to January 2021, 26 were suggestive of PMP22 CNV. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis was performed in 58 cases, and the results were 100% concordant with the NGS data (23 duplications, 2 deletions, and 33 negatives). Analytical performance of the pipeline was further validated by another blind data set, including 14 positive and 20 negative samples. Reliable detection of PMP22 CNV was possible by analyzing not only PMP22 but also the adjacent genes within the 1.5-megabase region of 17p11.2. On the basis of the high accuracy of CNV calling for PMP22, the testing strategy for diagnosis of peripheral polyneuropathies could be simplified by reducing the need for multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification.

Communication: Evaluation of the Humasis COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test for the Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the performance of the Humasis COVID-19 AgHS Test (Humasis, Korea), a novel antigen rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) based on lateral flow immunoassay. METHODS: 85 SARS-CoV-2-positive and 155 SARS-CoV-2-negative nasopharyngeal swab specimens confirmed by rRT-PCR were tested using the Humasis and PBCheck Ag-RDTs. The analytical specificity of the Humasis Ag-RDT was evaluated using 27 strains of human respiratory pathogens. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity and specificity were 72.9% and 99.4% for the Humasis Ag-RDT and 64.7% and 100% for the PBCheck Ag-RDT, respectively. The sensitivity for specimens with Ct≤25 was 100% for both Ag-RDTs. The Humasis Ag-RDT showed no cross-reactivity with other respiratory pathogens. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that the Humasis Ag-RDT can be a useful diagnostic tool for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Performance evaluation of the SMG HHV-6 Q Real-Time PCR Kit for quantitative detection and differentiation of human herpesvirus 6A and 6B.

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the newly developed SMG HHV-6 Q Real-Time PCR Kit (SMG assay) with the RealStar HHV-6 PCR Kit (RealStar assay). The analytical sensitivity and specificity, linearity, and precision of the SMG assay were evaluated. The clinical performance of the SMG assay was assessed and compared with that of the RealStar assay using 207 clinical specimens (HHV-6A positive, n = 51; HHV-6B positive, n = 64; HHV-6A/B negative, n = 92). The limit of detection of the SMG assay was 2.92 log10 copies/mL for HHV-6A DNA and 2.88 log10 copies/mL for HHV-6B DNA. The linear range was determined to be 3.40-9.00 log10 copies/mL for both viruses. Intra- and inter-assay variability were below 5% at concentrations ranging from 4 to 9 log10 copies/mL. No cross-reactivity was observed with the 25 microorganisms included in the specificity panel. The clinical sensitivity and specificity of the SMG and RealStar assays compared to in-house polymerase chain reaction and sequencing were as follows: SMG assay, 98.0% and 100% for HHV-6A DNA, respectively, and 96.9% and 100% for HHV-6B DNA, respectively; RealStar assay, 98.0% and 100% for HHV-6A DNA, respectively, and 90.6% and 100% for HHV-6B DNA, respectively. The correlation coefficients between viral loads measured by the two assays were 0.948 and 0.975, with mean differences of 0.62 and 0.32 log10 copies/mL for HHV-6A and HHV-6B DNA, respectively. These results demonstrate that the SMG assay is a sensitive and reliable tool for the quantitative detection and differentiation of HHV-6A and HHV-6B DNA.IMPORTANCEQuantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) that can distinguish between HHV-6A and HHV-6B DNA is recommended for diagnosis of active infection. The SMG HHV-6 Q Real-Time PCR Kit (SMG assay) is a newly developed qPCR assay that can differentiate between HHV-6A and HHV-6B DNA; however, little is known about its performance. In this study, we assessed the performance of the SMG assay and compared it with that of a commercially available qPCR assay, the RealStar HHV-6 PCR Kit (RealStar assay). The SMG assay demonstrated excellent analytical sensitivity and specificity, precision, and linearity. Furthermore, the viral loads measured by the SMG assay were highly correlated with those measured by the RealStar assay. Our results suggest that the SMG assay is a useful diagnostic tool for quantitative detection and differentiation of HHV-6A and HHV-6B DNA.