Who This Site Serves
- Anyone interested in basic laboratory principles for HLA/histocompatibility, immunology/immunogenetics, and transplantation.
- Anyone studying for the CHT, CHS, or director’s exam (Basic principles are ALWAYS important).
- Anyone trying to understand HLA test theory to better understand results, including doctors, nurses, coordinators, patients, or family and friends of patients. Keep in mind, if you’re here for this reason, that each institution is distinct in its reporting. While this site will help you understand the basics, it is not meant to interpret your specific test result; you must discuss those details with your identified testing laboratory for confirmation of understanding.
This site is designed for medical technologists or medical laboratory scientists in the HLA/histocompatibility and transplant immunology field. It is more about the fundamentals of histocompatibility science so it’s geared for those who are newer to the field or who are looking to take the CHT & CHS exams. The site will focus on materials that are centric to studying for these exams.
That being said, there is so much here that can be useful to someone who doesn’t fit those categories, whether you’re curious about your own HLA test or are interested in joining the field.
What does this site contain?
Basic science and HLA principles. This site will start with mainly articles and graphics about science fundamentals necessary to understand HLA testing and theory. It will eventually build to include study aids (like flashcards, cheat sheets, quizzes, etc), animated videos, and hopefully even games to make the learning process seem suspiciously like fun.
Why create this site?
It’s difficult to find materials that are short, easy to digest, contain visual aids for assistance, and focuses on such a specific subject. ASHI has an amazing ASHI-U site filled with related HLA information (link to them on the Additional HLA Resources page); they are an excellent resource for studying. I highly recommend them as they were how I passed my own CHT and CHS exams. I also attended both the AFDT technologist and specialist courses (see the Additional HLA Resources page for more on them too). I loved them but wow was that a lot of knowledge all at once. This site is no replacement for those resources. This site is, instead:
- A more casual network of information meant to dive into HLA beginning at the science basics.
- Will eventually cover all material required to pass the CHT or CHS and will do so as a learning guide, study aid, and resource hub.
- Will give you another perspective on concepts that trouble you.
- Will help you prepare for the wealth of knowledge that is the AFDT courses so you can absorb more of the information at that level.
- Will give readers a better idea of how this field works, especially if you’re new or if you are someone or know someone who’s getting a transplant.
- Can also serve as a learning tool for the bench if you’re trying to train and find yourself missing a picture that could help you explain a concept. Hopefully you can find that picture here. If not, definitely message a request! I’d love to help!
Please reach out to me if:
- There’s any way I can aid in your learning
- you have questions and want help answering them. If I can’t answer them myself I’ll point you in the direction of further information.
- you have topic requests (ELISA assays, SSO, CDC crossmatches, etc)
- you have material requests (graphics, flashcards, etc)
- you notice any errors on the site or in the material itself (I always leave room to learn more!)
- you’d love to chat about science!
