Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing is necessary to know if a potential donor is compatible. This is generally done for all immediate family members (brothers, sisters, mother and father). However, some bone marrow donors can also be used for so-called haploidentical transplantation, which is increasingly successful for severe sickle cell anaemia, aplastic anaemia, leukaemia and other forms of pediatric cancers and blood disorders. We no longer routinely perform unrelated donor searches.
High-resolution DNA-based HLA typing is generally preferred, particularly in the case of consanguinity or close ethnicity (see scientific publication for more info). If for any reason high-resolution HLA typing cannot be done, one can start with low-resolution HLA.
Required Information for HLA typing:
Checklists for patients with sickle cell disease (SCDs)
- full name
- gender
- date of birth of the patient & every immediate family member
- height, weight and underlying disease
- any relevant social background information
- a complete shipping address with contact number
Additional Information Required
- number of painful crises per year
- other complications related to SCD
- current therapy
- any transfusions
- haemoglobin, MCV and haemoglobin electrophoresis
- HIV, hepatitis C and B status
- any other relevant medical history, laboratory results or physical examination findings
- haemoglobin, MCV and haemoglobin electrophoresis for both parents
- whether parents have been advised about cure by BMT as well as SCD prevention
HLA kits will be shipped to you and back to our offices. These kits consist of simple internal cheek swabs which are already pre-labelled and barcoded according to the information you have provided.
The collection is quite simple. Consent forms and shipping instructions are also provided. For more information and to request free HLA-Typing:
