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Laboratory Services
HLA, Platelet Immunology Laboratory
Many services needed by patients in our community hospitals are performed in our HLA, Platelet Laboratory. That is where we type our apheresis (platelet) donors for Class I antigens. Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) are proteins found on the surface of white cells and most other tissues in the body They are similar in nature to the antigens on the red blood cells in that they define various tissue types. When a tissue is transplanted, whether it is in the form of a kidney, bone marrow, stem cells or platelets, the recipient�s immune system may recognize the HLA proteins as being from a foreign source and respond by rejecting the transplanted tissue. To avoid rejection, tissues must be match for the HLA antigens between the donor and recipient.
Patients with blood disorders or cancer often require multiple platelet transfusions. These patients frequently develop HLA antibodies or antibodies against other platelet proteins. These antibodies cause rapid destruction of the transfused platelets, which prevents the control of bleeding. The only solution is to transfuse the patients with HLA-matched platelets.
Our laboratory provides the matched platelets needed by these patients. Using serological-based typing methods, the laboratory has HLA and PLA1 typed over 3,000 apheresis donors who can be called when their platelets are needed. The laboratory also provides antibody screening and crossmatching upon a doctor�s request.
Our laboratory is accredited by the American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI), the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act �88 (CLIA), the AABB (formerly the Association of American Blood Banks), the state of New York and the state of New Jersey.
Test and Product Requisition Forms:
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