Post-transplant HLA Antibody Screening

The complement-dependent cytotoxicity cross-match was negative before transplantation in all patients. Serum samples from recipients were screened for the presence of HLA antibodies using the Lifecodes Lifescreen Deluxe (LMX) kit, according to the manufacturer's manual (Immucor Transplant Diagnostics Inc. Stamford, CT, USA) 5–7 years post-transplant at the time of blood sampling. Anti-HLA class I (HLA-A, HLA-B, or HLA-C) or HLA class II (HLA-DR or HLA-DQ) antibodies were further analyzed with a Luminex Single Antigen assay using LABscreen HLA class I and class II antigen beads (One Lambda, Canoga Park, GA, USA), as described in our previous study (42 (link)). The presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) was determined by comparing the various HLA specificities with donor HLA typing.