NEW FOR 2025-26: HNA EQA Schemes!
UK NEQAS H&I are very excited to announce not 1, but 2 brand new EQA schemes for the upcoming 2025-26 distribution year!
The new EQA schemes, which are focused on HNAs (Human Neutrophil Antigens), will initially be run as pilot schemes for a year in order to assess interest and effectiveness. Participation in the pilot year will be free of charge (excl. carriage) and will allow us to gain an understanding of the interest in the schemes, as well test the effectiveness of the scheme design.
As mentioned above, the new EQA schemes will be focusing on different aspects of HNAs. Scheme 12 will focus on HNA genotyping, whereas scheme 13 will look at HNA antibodies (detection/specification). During the free pilot year, 4 samples of each scheme will be available. These samples will be sent over 2 distributions and therefore each distribution will contain 2 samples.
Understanding and matching HNAs between donors and recipients can help reduce these risks and improve outcomes in both transfusion and transplantation setting. HNAs are polymorphic glycoproteins found on the surface of neutrophils. These antigens play a crucial role in the immune system and are clinically relevant in transplantation and transfusion for several reasons:
- Transfusion Reactions: Antibodies against HNAs can cause transfusion-related complications, such as
febrile reactions and transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). - Transplant Rejection: In hematopoietic stem cell and organ transplants, mismatched HNAs between
donor and recipient can lead to graft rejection or non-engraftment. - Neutropenia: Autoimmune or alloimmune neutropenia, where the body’s immune system
attacks its own neutrophils, can be triggered by antibodies against HNAs.
There will be no formal assessment for each scheme during the pilot year, however a full summary of results will be made available to each participant. Performance tables will also be available for each sample after testing, where participants can compare their own results to others. If you are a current participant and would like to register for these pilot schemes, this can be done via the 2025 registration form on you participant’s portal account*. If you are not a current participant but would like to participant in the HNA pilot schemes, please get in contact with us below or email us directly via ukneqashandi@wales.nhs.uk
For more information on each scheme, please head to our pilot EQA schemes page. If you would like to discuss anything related to the pilot schemes, please use the contact button below.
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