The application of flow cytometry to histocompatibility testing.
Flow cytometry is a powerful technique that enables the sensitive and quantitative detection of both cellular antigens and bound biological moieties. This article reviews how flow cytometry is increasingly being used as histocompatibility laboratories for the analysis of antibody specificity and HLA antigen expression. A basic description of flow cytometry principles and standardisation is given, together with an outline of clinical application in the areas of pre-transplant cross-matching, antibody screening, post-transplant antibody monitoring and HLA-B27 detection. It is concluded that flow cytometry is a useful multi-parametric analytical tool, yielding clinical benefit especially in the identification of patients at risk of early transplant rejection.
Horsburgh
T
T
Department of Surgery, Leicester General Hospital, UK.
Martin
S
S
Robson
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014181:Transplantation Immunology
D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen