The focus of the 2006 ISBT Platelet Immunology Workshop held in Cape Town, South Africa, was on standardization of the MAIPA method with a view to closing the gaps in sensitivity and specificity identified in earlier Workshops.
According to the suggestion of recent ISBT Platelet Working Party Meeting held in Madrid and information inquiries about next workshop, the Organizing Committee of 14th ISBT Platelet Immunology Workshop decided that the main objective for the 14th Workshop would be to share the latest knowledge and techniques in Platelet Immunology for the laboratory diagnosis of platelet immune disorders. Through joint exercises the workshop hopes to build consensus for various standards in Platelet Immunology and molecular testing. The exercises of the 14th International Platelet Immunology Workshop will include the following:
Goals:
1) Serological Testing
a. Test "blind" serum samples with known HPA antibody specificity and those with unknown specificity or "low frequency" antigen specificity using in house and /or commericial assay methods. Results will be compared between labs as a quality exercise and to help identify antibodies against potential "new" HPA. (This exercise was marked as 1-a).
b. Comparison of commercial and in-house monoclonal antibodies against various platelet glycoproteins (i.e. GPIIb/IIIa, GPIa/IIa, etc.) in MAIPA with sera that contain known HPA antibodies. Results for all participating labs will be compared to determine if some monoclonal antibodies or combinations of monoclonal antibodies are advantageous for detection of clinically significant HPA-specific allo-antibodies. This information will help laboratories engaged in platelet antibody detection and identification to improve the sensitivity of their antigen capture assays (i.e.MAIPA, MACE). (This exercise was marked as 1-b).
2) Genotyping Workshop
a. DNA with mutations impairing accurate genotyping for HPA by PCR-SSP will be tested by all participating labs to evaluate whether their in-house genotyping methods are affected by these types of samples. This will alert labs to change their PCR-SSP strategy. . (This exercise was marked as 2-a).
b. Reference DNA samples from human and EBV transformed cell lines will be provided to participating labs to help them evaluate and standardize their in-house genotyping methods to improve assay sensitivity and specificity.(This exercise was marked as 2-b).
3) Drug-dependent platelet antibodies
In addition,as an option, those labs that would like to evaluate their current testing or implement testing for detection of drug-dependent platelet antibodies (DDAb) may do so. The workshop organizer will provide materials (drug, positive serum sample) and protocols (flow cytometry, MAIPA procedures) for all participants who are interested in the characterization of quinine DDAb. (This exercise was marked as 3).
Labs can choose to participate in any number or all the above Workshop. |
