Why Crossmatch Tests are Very Important and What Do They Tell Us?

Organ transplantation is a very complex procedure that can save lives. It is a very useful procedure if the concepts of immunology, gained through bitter experience over the years, are kept in mind during practice. Allogeneic sensitization due to previous exposure(s) to alloantigens can hamper the procedure and remains the main obstacle to organ transplantation. Allosensitization and its level in a patient can be revealed before transplantation using the crossmatch test performed by incubating the patient's serum with the possible donor's lymphocytes in a laboratory environment. Crossmatch tests are routinely used prior to transplantation to prevent acute humoral reactions to the allograft tissue following reperfusion and also for long-term monitoring of the patient's humoral status during the pre- and post-transplantation periods.