Evaluation of three different laboratory methods to detect preformed human leukocyte antigen antibodies in a South African kidney transplant population

Kwofie, Luyanda Laura IlliciaAnderson, RonaldSteel, Helen CarolynMeyer, Pieter Willem Adriaan2021-12-142021-12-142021-06Kwofie, L., Anderson, R., Steel, H., Meyer, P.W.A. Evaluation of three different laboratory methods to detect preformed human leukocyte antigen antibodies in a South African kidney transplant population. African Health Sciences 2021;21(2). 735-742. https://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4314/ahs.v21i2.321680-6905 (print)1729-0503 (online)10.4314/ahs.v21i2.32http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83049BACKGROUND : Anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies (anti-HLA) play a crucial role in graft. Detection of anti-HLA, both pre- and post-transplant is a crucial investigation in clinical organ transplantation. OBJECTIVES : Three methodologies for the detection of lymphocytotoxic antibodies were compared to establish which of these is best suited to optimise pre-transplant donor-recipient matching. METHODS : Serum samples from 15 renal transplant patients were tested for the presence of anti-HLA by i) cytotoxic-dependent cross-match (CDCXM), ii) flow cytometric cross-match (FCXM) and iii) Luminex-based donor specific antibody cross-match (DSAXM) method, Confirmatory tests for the presence of preformed HLA antibodies were tested using Luminex methodology. RESULTS : Two (13%) of the 15 patients had positive HLA Class I antibodies (Ab) using all 3 methods. An additional 2 HLA Class I Ab were identified with FCXM/CDCXM. DSAXM identified 1 HLA Class I positive, not indicated by CDCXM/FCXM. High HLA Class II positivity (40%), identified by CDCXM, while DSAXM and FCXM identified two and one patients, respectively. CDCXM produced 4 false-positive results confirmed by lymphocyte single antigen (LSA) assay. CONCLUSIONS : The DSAXM method appears to add value in pre-transplantation screening to identify pre-sensitised patients that may not reject the donor graft due to the absence of donor-specific antibodies.en© 2021 Kwofie L et al. Licensee African Health Sciences. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative commons Attribution License.Preformed human leukocyteAntigen antibodiesKidney transplantPopulationSouth Africa (SA)Anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies (anti-HLA)Evaluation of three different laboratory methods to detect preformed human leukocyte antigen antibodies in a South African kidney transplant populationArticle