Histocompatibility Immunology Laboratory
The Histocompatibility Immunology (HLA) Laboratory at AU Medical Center was established
in 1968 as part of the Medical College of Georgia’s organ transplant program.
Histocompatibility Immunology Laboratory
The Histocompatibility Immunology (HLA) Laboratory at AU Medical Center was established
in 1968 as part of the Medical College of Georgia’s organ transplant program.
Our Approach
Our mission is to provide timely and quality laboratory services specialized in histocompatibility
and immunology to support the solid organ transplant program, the bone marrow transplant
program, and other departments. To strengthen the partnership with the transplant
programs by providing expert guidance which contributes to better allocation and utilization
of organs, better selection of stem cell donors, and overall improvement of transplant
outcomes.
Why Choose Us
The first transplant (kidney) performed at MCG was performed on August 28, 1968, by
transplant surgeon Arthur Humphries, MD. In those early years, transplantation and
compatibility testing for transplantation were purely investigational procedures.
The modern day laboratory is in the AUMC division of Clinical Pathology and recently
celebrated 50 years of history (1968-2018) and service to the AUMC Renal Transplant
Program. Additionally, the laboratory proudly supports the Bone Marrow Transplant
Program and hospital clinics.
Members of the laboratory serve in leadership roles in national organizations and
represent the Department of Pathology Services by serving as clinical histocompatibility
laboratory inspectors for both ASHI and CAP.
Accreditation
CLIA Certified
The laboratory is CLIA certified and maintains accreditation by the state of Georgia
(GA DHR); ASHI (American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics); CAP (College
of American Pathologists); and UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing).
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
The laboratory is directed by Valia Bravo-Egana, PhD, MBA, D(ABHI) and provides state
of the art clinical testing services for:
- Patients awaiting solid organ (kidney, pancreas) transplantation
- Patients awaiting bone marrow/stem cell transplantation
- Patients with conditions or diseases associated with specific HLA alleles
- Patients requiring HLA compatible platelet transfusions
- Georgia’s Organ Procurement Organization (LifeLink)
- AU Medical Center hospital clinics
Frequently Asked Questions
What does HLA stand for?
What is HLA Typing?
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HLA antigens are cell membrane glycoproteins that play a key role in the initiation
of the immune response. The laboratory utilizes DNA based methods to define HLA alleles
or genetic variants and allele groups. Different molecular techniques (SSP / RT-PCR
/ NGS) are utilized for HLA typing depending upon the clinical application. Histocompatibility
for solid organ transplantation generally requires a low to intermediate level typing
resolution to determine the individual patient or donor HLA type. Bone Marrow transplantation
requires a higher level of resolution when determining the patient and donor HLA type.
HLA typing is also utilized to confirm alleles/genetic variants associated with specific
diseases and conditions. These tests help clinicians to diagnose the conditions. (i.e.
celiac, narcolepsy, ankylosing spondylitis).
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Why is HLA important to the field of Medicine?
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The science of histocompatibility and immunogenetics is concerned with genetic polymorphism
in healthy subjects and patients and the development, performance and interpretation
of laboratory tests for organ transplantation and related medical/biological applications.
The field includes the following general areas:
- Identification of human leukocyte antigens (HLA), their genes and other genetic systems
commonly studied in connection with the HLA system
- Analysis of HLA genotype segregation data in families
- Production, procurement, and characterization of antibodies, immune cells and probes
for proteins and genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
- Functional histocompatibility assays measuring lymphocyte activation and cell-mediated
cytolysis
- Application of polymorphisms to questions of parentage, genetic relationship, and
disease risk
- Principles of transplant immunology, self-recognition, and MHC restriction of immune
responses
- Behavior of MHC genes in populations and their significance to anthropology and evolution
- Regulations and policies governing laboratory testing, human organ transplantation,
and organ sharing at the national, regional and local levels
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