The Preparation of Platelet Panel using DNA genotyping

Kim, Hyun Ok; Kim, Mun Jung; Cho, Sung Ran

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The serum should be tested with a platelet panel for identification of platelet specific alloantibodies. Such platelet panels are not available from commercial sources and can usually be made using platelets from local donor population. We prepared the platelet panel by DNA genotyping for 5 major platelet specific antigens and evaluated the detection ability of panel with clinical samples from patients showing the refractoriness to platelet transfusion.
METHODS
DNA genotyping of five major platelet specific alloantigens (PlA, Ko, Bak, Pen, Br) was performed for ninety three donors by reverse dot blot hybridization technique. For the evaluation of the panel we prepared, we used the antiplatelet antibody positive sera detected by modified antigen capture ELISA.
RESULTS
The most frequently encountered genotypes of platelets are PlA1/PlA1, Kob/Kob, Baka/Bakb, Pena/Pena, Brb/Brb (36% of ninety three donor platelets tested). PlA2 and Penb alleles were not identified in this study. Two cases of anti-Koa were identified using panel we prepared.
CONCLUSION
The genotyping of platelet alloantigens circumvented the limitation of immunophenotyping by the general lack of quality typing antisera. It is impossible to make a good panel which was composed entirely of five major platelet specific alloantigen systems because the PlA2, Penb, and Bra are very rare alleles in Koreans. But our panel can be used for the identification of antibodies against Ko and/or Bak platelet antigen in patients with platelet alloimmunization.