Caveats of HLA antibody detection by solid-phase assays

Abstract

Solid-phase assays for human leukocyte antigens (HLA) antibody detection have clearly revolutionized the field of HLA diagnostics and transplantation. The key advantages are a high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of HLA antibodies compared with cell-based assays, as well as the potential for standardization. Solid-phase assays enabled the broad introduction of tools such as “virtual crossmatching” and “calculated panel reactive antibodies,” which are essential components in many organ allocation systems, kidney-paired donation programs, and center-specific immunological risk stratification procedures. The most advanced solid-phase assays are the so-called single antigen beads (SAB). They are available now for more than 15 years, and the transplant community embraced their significant advantages. However, SAB analysis and interpretation is complex and many pitfalls have to be considered. In this review, we will discuss problems, limitations, and challenges using SAB. Furthermore, we express our wishes for the improvements of SAB as well as their future use for immunological assessment and research purposes.