Results of the HLA Typing Proficiency Survey in Korea, 2000-2002

Park, Myoung Hee; Kim, Byoung Cheol; Han, Bok Yeun

Abstract

BACKGROUND
HLA proficiency survey was started in 1996 in Korea, and the results of the 1996-1998 surveys were reported previously. Here, we report the results of the surveys performed in recent three years (2000-2002). METHODS: Six surveys were carried out with the participation of 52-54 laboratories. For each survey, 3 peripheral blood samples and 2 sera were distributed for 3 HLA class I serology, 3 HLA class I DNA, 3 HLA class II DNA, 6 HLA crossmatch, and 3 PRA tests. RESULTS: Overall consensus of serologic typing was similar to the results of the previous survey: HLA-A 93.5%, HLA-B 88.3%, and HLA-A, B 82.7%. There were an increasing number of the laboratories that were using DNA typing for HLA-DR (51 laboratories, 94%) and HLA-A and B (26 laboratories, 48%). Overall consensus of DNA typing was very high: HLA-A 100%, HLA-B 99.1%, HLAC 97.9%, HLA-DRB1 low/high resolution 99.2/99.0%, HLA-DQB1 low/high resolution 99.3/97.5%. HLA crossmatch (T cells) was reported by 44-49 laboratories, and the use of sensitive methods was increased: AHG 33 laboratories and flow cytometry 7 laboratories. For incompatible (positive) crossmatches, 4.9% (0-14.3%) of cytotoxicity tests and 7.1% (0-16.7%) of flow tests were reported as negative. PRA was reported by 5 laboratories only. CONCLUSIONS: The use of DNA tests for HLA typing and AHG or flow cytometry methods for HLA crossmatch tests has much increased compared to the previous report. A continuous survey program would play an important role in the standardization and maintenance of laboratory proficiency in histocompatibility testing in Korea.