Report on the 12th International Society of Blood Transfusion platelet immunology workshop

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).

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.

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.

The results obtained from this workshop highlighted deficiencies in testing regimes and identified a need for internationally available reference materials.