HLA typing of nonviable tissues with a multiple microabsorption method

HLA typing is usually performed by directly measuring complement-dependent cytotoxicity on viable peripheral blood lymphocytes as target cells. To overcome the limitations inherent to viable targets, absorption inhibition techniques have been developed. The main drawbacks of most of these techniques are, however, that they are not very feasible and require relatively large amounts of absorbing material and rare antisera. Therefore, we adjusted the multiple microabsorption method (MMA) and tested simultaneously for 16 HLA specificities of the A, B, and C locus on 6 different nonviable tissues. The results of the MMA, when compared with those of the usual microlymphocytotoxicity test (LCT) that was run in parallel, correspond in 96% of the 28 comparable antigen pairs. Only one false negative and no false positive result was found. The absorbing quality of the individual organs differed, as was to be expected: lymph node and spleen rank on the top, followed by liver and kidney, whereas brain and muscle show several negative reactions. Altogether, the MMA proves to be a reliable and practical method for typing nonviable tissues, eg, in hematological diseases or in certain forensic situations.