Tissue Typing Laboratory

Overview

The Tissue Typing Laboratory, established in 1988, provides human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing, HLA antibody screening and lymphocyte crossmatching services. These tests are required for patients undergoing evaluation for organ transplantation and bone marrow transplantation, for patients requiring platelet transfusions from HLA-matched donors and for patients undergoing evaluation of conditions with known associations to particular HLA alleles, locally and also for patients in the region.

HLA typing is performed using both serological and molecular techniques. HLA-B27 antigen screening is performed using the complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) method. HLA Class I and II alleles are typed using molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP), sequence based typing (SBT) etc.

Antibody screening by flow cytometry determines whether antibody to HLA antigens is present in patient's serum. Identification of antibody to HLA antigens is performed using fluorescence-activated flow cytometry. Crossmatching mixes serum from patients and lymphocytes from potential donors to test whether the patient has formed antibody to donor antigens and is performed using complement dependent cytotoxicity or flow cytometry.

TPS test information

Tests Methods Turn-around-time (in working days) Sample requirement
HLA typing (HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DQ, DP), single locus typing available
  1. Molecular PCR-SSP (Low resolution)
  2. Molecular PCR-SSP (Intermediate to high resolution)
  3. Molecular Sequence Based Typing (high resolution)
 7 10ml ACD or EDTA blood (30-50ml of blood is required if patient WBC count is less than 1 x 109/L)
HLA-B27 screening Complement Dependent Cytotoxicity 3 10ml ACD or Sodium Citrate blood
Single allele screening like HLA-B*15:02, HLA-B*57:01, HLA-B*58:01 etc Molecular PCR-SSP 7
  • 10ml ACD or EDTA blood
HLA Antibody Screening

Flow Cytometry

 7              5ml Plain blood or 2ml serum
HLA Antibody Identification Luminex based (Single antigen beads) 7 5ml Plain blood or 2ml serum
HLA Crossmatch
  1. Complement Dependent Cytotoxicity
  2. Flow Cytometry (with or without Pronase)
 3
  • Recipient:5ml Plain blood or 2ml serum
  • Donor:20ml ACD or Sodium Citrate blood

HLA typing is not performed for paternity testing purposes and the laboratory does not accept walk-in patients/donors.

The HLA laboratory operates from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6.30pm. Samples received after 2pm will be processed on the next working day. Samples should be transported at room temperature and to reach the HLA laboratory within 24-48 hours of blood collection. Standard Test Request form is available and will be provided upon request.

For more information please contact:

E-mail: HSA_BSG_TPS@hsa.gov.sg
Telephone: 6213 0632 / 6213 0633

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