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HLA Testing Methods

HLA is an acronym for Human Leukocyte Antigen.The test is more commonly known as a tissue typing or histocompatibility testing, according to Lab Tests Online. It is primarily used to match transplant recipients and donors, but can also pinpoint conditions like celiac disease and narcolepsy. It can also be used to diagnose some autoimmune diseases. The HLA test identifies antigens on white blood cells that are very specific to an individual's genetic makeup and helps doctors determine the risk of transplant rejection.

  1. HLA Blood Test

    • An HLA test is usually performed like a routine blood test.

      The most common HLA test is a simple blood test. You do not need to fast or take any special precautions before the test.

    Performing the Blood Test

    • A health professional will draw blood from a vein in your arm.

      A laboratory technician or other health care provider will wrap a band around your arm above the elbow. She will then clean the area inside the bend of your arm with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab and tap the region to make the vein expand. She will puncture the vein with a needle and draw blood into a capsule attached to the needle. More than one capsule may be required. After the blood is collected, she will place gauze or cotton balls over the site as the needle is removed. She will put pressure on the site and cover it with a bandage.

    Complications of the Blood Test

    • You may experience bruising in the area where the blood was drawn. You can reduce bruising by maintaining pressure on the site for a few minutes. Occasionally the procedure causes phlebitis, or swelling of the vein. It is treated with regular application of warm compresses.

    Results of the Blood Test

    • After your blood is drawn, it will be sent to a laboratory for testing. The testing facility will identify alleles and antibodies present in the blood and compare the samples of the organ transplant recipient and donor to determine compatibility. The antibodies in the blood can also be examined for the presence of autoimmune diseases.

    Swab Test

    • According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, HLA blood tests are rarely done on children under the age of 6 months. If a child under this age needs an HLA test, it can be done by a buccal (cheek) swab. In this type of HLA test, a cotton swab is used to gently scrape the inside of the mouth. The small amount of tissue that accumulates on the swab is sent to a laboratory for testing.

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