Glossary term · Tests & reports
HLA typing (also: Tissue typing, Histocompatibility testing, HLA test): HLA typing is a blood test that identifies a person’s human leukocyte antigens, proteins used to match donors and recipients for transplants.
HLA typing is a blood test that identifies your human leukocyte antigens. These proteins help the immune system tell your own tissue from foreign material. MedlinePlus says the results help find compatible donors for organ and tissue transplants, including kidney and bone marrow transplants. Transplant teams may test both the patient and the proposed family donor.
How is it done?
A blood sample is taken from a vein. MedlinePlus says no special preparation is needed.
Why are relatives tested?
Each person inherits HLAs from their parents, so a child shares about half of each parent’s HLAs. MedlinePlus notes that identical twins may match each other and two unrelated people are unlikely to match.
Where does HLA fit in a transplant in India?
- The THO Rules 2014 require transplant centres to have HLA matching facilities, in house or outsourced.
- Living donation to a foreign national is permitted only from a near relative, with the relationship certified by the embassy.
- Where a genetic relationship is not conclusively established from documents, the Rules provide for DNA profiling in an accredited laboratory. This is a separate test from HLA typing.
Never a donor search
HLA typing is done on a related donor who travels with the patient. IndiaMedica never sources organ donors, and Indian law does not permit unrelated living donation to foreign nationals.
Questions people ask
Should my family be HLA typed before we travel?
Ask the transplant team first. Some teams prefer to do all tests in their own accredited laboratory. Others accept results from home for initial planning. They will also advise on blood group and other tests.
Is HLA typing the same as a DNA relationship test?
No. HLA typing checks tissue compatibility. MedlinePlus notes it can sometimes help in questions of parentage, but the THO Rules 2014 set out separate DNA profiling when a relationship must be proved.
Sources
- MedlinePlus: HLA typing (histocompatibility antigen test)
- Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules 2014 (text via LegitQuest)
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. Your treating specialist decides on suitability, treatment and length of stay. How we write and check.