HLA-DRB1 associations in individuals with single and multiple clinically relevant red blood cell antibodies.

Background: A minority of red blood cell (RBC) alloantigen-exposed persons form antibodies. Responders are at high risk of developing additional antibodies upon subsequent transfusions. Several studies showed an association between particular HLA-DRB1 phenotypes and the development of specific RBC antibodies.

HLA-DQ2+ individuals are susceptible to Hu-Ab associated paraneoplastic neurological syndromes.

Background: Hypothetically, T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes associated with Hu-antibodies (Hu-PNS).

Objective: To identify genetic risk factors for Hu-PNS and investigate the role of T cells.

Methods: HLA-A, B, DRB1 and DQB1 alleles were compared in 53 Hu-PNS patients with 24 small-cell lung-cancer (SCLC) patients and 2440 healthy controls (HC).

Flow cytometric screening for the HLA-B27 antigen on peripheral blood lymphocytes.

HLA-B27 is common to the entire group of seronegative spondyloarthropathies, and assessment of HLA-B27 is of diagnostic importance if any of these diseases are considered. Among the alternatives to traditional typing by the complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay, flow cytometric HLA-B27 screening is most widely used in general diagnostic laboratories, as it is simple, rapid, and cost effective. This unit describes screening for HLA-B27 on peripheral blood lymphocytes using more than one HLA-B27 monoclonal antibody to detect possible cross-reactivity with non-HLA-B27 antigens.

Long-term stabilized blood samples as controls for flow cytometric HLA-B27 screening: a feasibility study.

Background: Long-term stabilized blood samples are potentially useful as positive or negative procedure controls for flow cytometric HLA-B27 screening, and could serve as test samples in an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme. We evaluated long-term stabilized whole blood specimens as prepared for the UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping EQA scheme (Sheffield, UK).

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from nine blood bank donors with known HLA-B typing.

Flow cytometric lymphocyte subset enumeration: 10 years of external quality assessment in the Benelux countries.

A biannual external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for flow cytometric lymphocyte immunophenotyping is operational in the Benelux countries since 1996. We studied the effects of the methods used on assay outcome, and whether or not this EQA exercise was effective in reducing between-laboratory variation. Eighty test samples were distributed in 20 biannual send-outs.

Flow cytometric CD34+ stem cell enumeration: lessons from nine years' external quality assessment within the Benelux countries.

Background: A biannual external quality assurance (EQA) scheme for flow cytometric CD34+ haematopoietic stem cell enumeration has been operational in the Benelux countries since 1996. In an evaluation of the results of 16 send-outs, we studied the effects of the methods used on assay outcome and whether or not this exercise was effective in reducing between-laboratory variation.

Methods: Data were analyzed using robust multivariate regression.

Flow cytometric HLA-B27 screening: cross-reactivity patterns of commercially available anti-HLA-B27 monoclonal antibodies with other HLA-B antigens.

Background: Some 50 clinical laboratories in the Benelux perform flow cytometric HLA-B27 screening and participate in the Benelux external quality assessment scheme operational since 1995. Results from this scheme indicate that cross-reactivity of HLA-B27 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is a major problem.

Methods: We analyzed cross-reactivity patterns of commercially available mAbs for HLA-B27 screening.