A rapid HLA-D matching method using PHA blasts as responding cells (preliminary data on PHA blasts HLA-D typing).

Day 3-4 PHA stimulated lymphocytes were found to respond against HLA-D without any period of latency, thus allowing a discriminative MLR reading as early as 24-48 h. The test is therefore characterized by the minute number of responding cells necessary (5 X 10(3)), a one-way reaction without additional treatment of the stimualtion normal lymphocytes (5 x 10(4)), and the rapid obtaining of data. We found the preliminary data testing its concordance with classical HLA-D typing encouraging and worthy of being tested on a larger scale. Using mitogen stimulated recipient cells stored frozen, HLA-D matching with potential donors was found to be feasible within 24-48 h. The mechanism of such a prompt response by mitogen stimulated lymphocytes is unknown but appears to be independent of the nature and dose of a given mitogen.