Report on the 12th International Society of Blood Transfusion platelet immunology workshop.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the 12th International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Platelet Immunology Workshop were to evaluate the proficiency of molecular human platelet antigen (HPA) genotyping and detection of platelet antibodies of unusual specificity or reactivity, to assess whether quantification of anti-HPA-1a is practicable, and to determine the variability of reagents and components used in the monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigens assay (MAIPA).


METHODS
Forty participants from 23 countries were sent 10 samples for DNA typing, five samples for antibody detection, a freeze-dried anti-HPA-1a standard, three samples for anti-HPA-1a quantification and a MAIPA method questionnaire.


RESULTS
The detection and identification of HPA antibodies varied from 2.7 to 95% of participants. The number of HPA genotyping errors per sample ranged from 0 to 3.96% per HPA loci. The majority of laboratories were able to assign an arbitrary number of units/ml of anti-HPA-1a activity to the unknown samples. The MAIPA questionnaire indicated a wide variation among participants, both in method and in reagents used.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained from this workshop highlighted deficiencies in testing regimes and identified a need for internationally available reference materials.
Bessos
H
H
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Edinburgh, UK. hagop.bessos@snbts.csa.nhs.uk
Wilson
D W L
DW
Metcalfe
P
P
Allen
D
D
Urbaniak
S J
SJ
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry; D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D039661:Integrin beta3; D007391:International Cooperation; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet; C061248:ITGB3 protein, human; D039661:Integrin beta3