Description
Why It’s Done (Purpose):
1. Organ and Bone Marrow Transplant Compatibility:
o To match donors and recipients for organ or stem cell transplantation.
o Close HLA matching reduces the risk of graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
2. Disease Association Testing:
o Certain HLA types are linked with specific autoimmune diseases, such as:
HLA-B27 → Ankylosing spondylitis
HLA-B51 → Behçet’s disease
HLA-A3 → Hemochromatosis (in some cases)
3. Paternity and Identity Testing (in some cases):
o HLA typing may be used in forensic or family relationship testing, though less commonly now due to DNA testing.
4. Research and Pharmacogenetics:
o To study genetic predispositions to drug reactions or immune-related conditions.
Preparation Guidelines:
• No special preparation is required.
• A blood sample is drawn from a vein.
• Inform your healthcare provider if:
o You have had a blood transfusion or organ transplant recently.
o You are currently on any immunosuppressive therapy, as it may influence the timing of the test or interpretation of results.


