Tissue Typing

The Tissue Typing division performs:

  • HLA typing (Serological and Molecular) for Bone Marrow Transplantation.  Refer to Change in HLA Nomenclature April 2010. 
  • HLA antibody investigations for refractory patients and Bone Marrow Recipients receiving platelet transfusions
  • HLA typing, crossmatching, and HLA antibody investigations (cytotoxic antibodies) for Renal Transplantation (Cadaver and Living Related Donors)
  • Typings for aid in diagnosis of certain diseases. 

HLA typing and crossmatches must be booked by calling the Tissue Typing Laboratory at 770-3652.

Service Hours

Regular hours of operation (exclusive of statutory holidays): 0700-1615h Monday - Friday.

Completing the Test Request Form

See Completing the Requisition.

Specimen Labelling Criteria

See Specimen Identification (Labelling).

Collection Guidelines

Peripheral blood specimens for HLA typing:
  • Collect in ACD-A tubes. ACD-B, EDTA and sodium heparin tubes are acceptable if ACD-A tubes are not available
  • Renal donor crossmatches and recipient autocrossmatches MUST be collected in ACD-A tubes
  • Hemolyzed, clotted or frozen specimens are not accepted
  • Sub-optimal specimens may yield unreliable results

HLA Antibody investigation and renal recipient crossmatches or recipient autocrossmatches should be collected in plain clotted tubes, NOT SST.