Tissue Type Test
Histocompatibility Testing, HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen), Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)
Why It Is Done
A tissue type test is done to:
- See whether the antigen pattern for donate tissue or organs (including a blood platelet transfusion or bone marrow transplant) is a match. The success of a transplant depends on how closely the antigen patterns match. The antigen patterns are most likely to be similar when the donated organ or tissue comes from a close relative of the person.
- See how likely two people are related. If the antigen patterns are very similar, they are likely to be related. However, a tissue type cannot prove definitively that two people are related. A tissue type test may be done as part of a paternity test to check to see if a man could be the father of a child.
- Find people who may have a high chance of certain autoimmune diseases.
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| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA | Last Updated: December 4, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology | |
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| Topic Contents | |
| Test Overview | |
 | Why It Is Done |
| How To Prepare | |
| How It Is Done | |
| How It Feels | |
| Risks | |
| Results | |
| What Affects the Test | |
| What To Think About | |
| References | |
| Credits | |