[Do we have a sufficient supply of anti-HLA serum? Review of sera produced by the transfusion service 1974-1992].

In 1974-1992 in the HLA reference laboratory of the Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion in Prague 15,731 sera sent by transfusion departments were examined; 4368 sera met the standard required for HLA typing, detecting 9 HLA-A, 18 HLA-B and 3 HLA-C antigens. Against these antigens with the exception of HLA-B41 and public antigens HLA-Bw4 and HLA-Bw6 monospecific sera were found: against 15 HLA antigens in a large number and against 12 HLA antigens--2 to 21 for the given antigen. Sera against subtypes of HLA antigens were sought only in rare instances, as in common practice it is sufficient (and sometimes essential) to type only basic HLA antigens.