[Pitfalls in interpreting anti-HLA antibodies by Luminex technology]

The Luminex technology has become an important tool for HLA antibody screening and identification. This is the most sensitive technology to detect HLA antibodies for transplant patients and patients on awaiting list, and it has ushered a new strategy to determine HLA compatibility between donor and recipient. Moreover, the clinical relevance of all detected anti-HLA antibodies is not well understood, because this technique was shown to be prone to many artefacts or interferences, leading to a complicated interpretation for biologists and clinicians. Our objective in this article is to provide a careful consideration about this solid phase assay, and to focus attention on raised questions about technical performance and interpretation of the results. We should keep in mind that our results could change the clinical management of sensitized patients, their aptitude to receive a graft, and their follow-up.