Virtual Basic Histocompatibility Course

Overview

Our Basic Histocompatibility Course will be conducted virtually this year! To ensure the safety of our attendees, speakers, and staff the 2021 course will be held virtually over April 12-16 and April 19-23. Course presentations will be pre-recorded and available for one week with Q&A sessions on Friday, April 16 and Friday, April 23. To accommodate all schedules, both AM and PM live Q&A sessions will be held and recorded for future reference.

 

View Course Brochure


Basic Course: April 12-16 and April 19-23

Registration Fees: $350

Objective

 

PURPOSE: The curriculum is designed to provide the technician/technologist with a well-rounded background in basic transplant immunology and related laboratory skills and provides the transplant fellow with basic immunology.

OBJECTIVES: By the end of the course, the successful student will:

  1. Meet the needs of the beginning HLA technician/technologist by providing pertinent information about HLA testing, methodologies, and information necessary to meet the ASHI Statement of Competency.

SYLLABUS: Each student will receive a comprehensive course syllabus containing:

  • Lecture summaries
  • Lecture outlines
  • References and bibliography

CURRICULUM: Course presentations will be pre-recorded and available for one week with Q&A sessions on Friday, April 16 and Friday, April 23. To accommodate all schedules, both AM and PM live Q&A sessions will be held and recorded for future reference.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS: Technologist in Histocompatibility Testing, with a minimum (3) months experience in an HLA Laboratory is eligible OR a B.S. in an appropriate biological science or MT(ASCP) or other appropriate registry.

This course will have a limited number of registrants; early registration is recommended.

Call the AFDT Office at 804-323-9890 OR email Arlene Skinner at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with program questions.

Important Dates and Conference Registration Information

 

Contact Arlene Skinner with program questions
804-323-9890
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pre-recorded lectures should be viewed at your leisure the week of April 12-16

  • Live Q&A sessions will be held for these lectures:
  • Friday, April 16, 2021, 10 — 11 am ET and 5-6 pm ET

The second set of pre-recorded lectures should be viewed at your leisure the week of April 19-23, 2021

  • Live Q&A sessions will be held for these lectures:
  • Friday, April 23, 2021, 10 – 11 am ET and 5-6 pm ET

 

The registration fee per participant is $350

Online registration accepted only via Debit and Credit Cards (no checks accepted)

FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE

Registration

Registration is closed.

Sponsors

 

Week 1 Lectures

WEEK 1 PRE-RECORDED LECTURES (APRIL 12-16)

BASIC IMMUNOLOGY

(A. Hahn)

  • Innate immunity mediators
  • Adaptive immunity
  • Antibody structure, genetics, function
  • T cell receptor structure, genetics, function
  • MHC structure, polymorphism, inheritance
  • Antigen processing and presentation
  • T cell maturation, activation, effector functions
  • B cell development, activation
  • Antibody response—humoral immunity
  • Natural killer cell receptors, function

MOLECULAR TYPING

(M. Gautreaux)

  • Facilities
  • DNA extraction
  • Forward and Reverse SSOP
  • Sequence-specific Primers
  • Quantitative PCR/Real Time-PCR
  • Sanger Sequencing-Based Typing
  • Next Generation Sequencing Typing
  • QC & Troubleshooting

ALLELES, EPITOPES, HAPLOTYPES & DISEASE ASSOCIATIONS

(A. Hahn)

  • History of HLA
  • Protein and molecular terminology
  • CREGS, epitopes, eplets
  • Serology typing and crossreactivity
  • Polymorphism
  • Linkage Disequilibrium, haplotypes
  • Naming of HLA antigens/alleles
  • Null alleles, G and P groups, NMDP codes
  • Disease Associations
  • HLA-associated drug hypersensitivity

TRANSPLANT IMMUNOLOGY

(K. Hitchman)

  • Innate and adaptive mechanisms of rejection
  • KIR
  • Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD)
  • ABO
  • Sensitization
  • Preventative and therapeutic immunomodulation (induction, maintenance, desensitization)
  • Immune memory/anamnestic responses

MOLECULAR GENETICS

(R. Liwski)

  • DNA Structure
  • RNA Structure and Function
  • Transcription and Translation
  • DNA Replication
  • MHC Gene Organization

LIVE Q&A SESSIONS (FRIDAY, APRIL 16)

10-11 AM AND 5-6 PM ET

Week 2 Lectures

WEEK 2 PRE-RECORDED LECTURES (APRIL 19-23)

SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTAITON

(M. Gautreaux)

  • History of transplantation
  • Kidney transplant overview
  • Other abdominal transplantation
  • Thoracic transplantation
  • Vascularized composite allografts
  • Organ allocation/UNOS/OPTN
  • Rejection

ANTIBODY DETECTION BY FLOW CYTOMETRY/LUMINEX

(K. Hitchman)

  • Principles of Flow Cytometry
  • Anti-HLA antibodies and transplantation
  • Evolution of antibody testing methods
  • Common current antibody testing methods
  • Sample considerations (serum selection, sample quality, timing, interference)
  • Analytics and interpretation
  • Pre-transplant vs. Post-transplant (DSA) considerations
  • Troubleshooting

HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION

(R. Liwski)

  • Autologous HSCT
  • Syngeneic HSCT
  • Allogeneic HSCT
  • HSC Sources
  • Donor Selection

CROSSMATCHING FOR TRANSPLANTATION

(M. Gautreaux)

  • Complement-Dependent Cytotoxicity
  • Flow Cytometric Crossmatching
  • Virtual Crossmatch
  • Renal vs. Non-Renal Crossmatching

QUALITY PROCESS & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

(W. Herczyk)

  • Laboratory Quality Control
  • Laboratory Quality Assessment
  • Quality Improvement Plans
  • Laboratory Regulations/Compliance
  • Laboratory Safety

LIVE Q&A SESSIONS (FRIDAY, APRIL 23)

10-11 AM AND 5-6 PM ET