Laboratory support of ABO antibody monitoring for ABO-incompatible solid organ transplantation

Abstract

The accurate measurement of ABO antibodies is essential for successful ABO-incompatible solid organ transplantation. Titration using two-fold dilution is considered a standard method and is applied in most laboratories. However, this titration method has inherent limitations, including differences in methods between laboratories, a lack of standardization, its semiquantitative nature, and the difficulty of considering the results to be representative of the in vivo activity of ABO antibodies. Various measurement methods other than titration have been developed, and new methods continue to be introduced. Physicians and laboratory specialists who are involved in ABO-incompatible solid organ transplantation need to fully understand these methods for optimal patient management.