While you are on the waiting list for a kidney and/or pancreas transplant, you must send blood samples to the transplant lab. These samples are different from your other regular labs.
If you do not send in your monthly samples, you may miss your chance for a transplant. You may also be switched to inactive on the waiting list until we have a current sample.
Antibody Testing
The lab will test your blood to look for antibodies. Antibodies can attack your new organ. Knowing if you have antibodies helps us decide which organs are right for you. These samples are stored by the lab and are ready to be used when an organ becomes available.
Collection Schedule
Monthly: You can collect samples any day of the month but avoid sending the week before a long holiday, if you can.
After blood transfusions: You will also need to send a blood sample 2 weeks after any blood transfusion.
Instructions for Inactive Patients
Most patients who are inactive on the waiting list do not need to send in monthly blood samples. You only need to send in a blood sample if you expect to be on the waitlist soon or if your care team told you to.
Check Expiration Dates
Check the expiration date on the tube. The expiration date is also listed on the outside mailer box in MMDDYY format. If tubes are expired, ask the lab for a new tube. If a replacement tube can be provided and drawn, label and send it using the (expired) kit/mailer box. If a new tube cannot be provided, throw away the entire kit. If expired kits are thrown away, contact your coordinator to send new kits.
Storing Kits
Store kits at home. Do not store kits at your dialysis center. The outside of each box has a barcode specific to you. We don’t want your kit to be confused with another patients. When needed, take one kit to be drawn.
Once you have received your transplant, you can throw away your leftover kits.
Getting More Supplies
Each kit is scanned when it is received by the lab. The kit supplier will send you more kits when their records show you have one kit left and you are still on the waiting list.
Send one blood sample back per box, per month. Do not let other patients use your kits. If you do, we will not know how many you have left. This may affect your future supplies.
Shipping Your Sample
The box has pre-paid postage so you can just drop it in the mail. You do not need any stamps. If your kit has FedEx supplies, please return using FedEx.
U.S. Postal Service Shipping Guidelines
Blood specimens used to monitor pre-transplant HLA antibody levels are exempt human specimens. They are considered low risk because these are transported for routine testing and are not related to the diagnosis of an infectious disease.
For a standard blood specimen, the kit you are given by UW Health can be used.
Outer box: The outer box requires the address label and must be marked “Exempt Human Specimen”. You
do not need to put a biohazard label or other stickers on the outer box. Doing so could delay delivery.
Inner container: You must include the biohazard warning on the inner container. If you are being treated for an
infectious disease, you may need other materials. These materials are not
included in your kits.
How to Label Your Tube
Tube label must include:
Patient’s full name AND
UW Health Medical Record number OR Birth date
Date blood drawn
Steps for Lab for Collecting Sample
Pick a serum tube with a red top with yellow ring (SST). You may also use a plain red top serum tube.
If you can, spin SST tube to separate serum. Or, if you are using a plain red top, take serum off the cells.
Label tube. Use the supplied pre-printed label.
Insert the sample and an absorbent mat into the plastic biohazard bag you were given. Seal the bag.
Insert the bagged sample into the pre-labeled cardboard mailer box you were given.
Samples will last for up to 8 days at room temperature before they expire.
When to Call
Call your transplant coordinator or the HLA lab if:
A tube breaks.
You throw away a kit.
You lose any of your kits.
They will update the number of kits you need. If you have questions about your sample, call the lab.
Disclaimer: This information is based on the UW Health interpretation of new regulations and is intended for use with containers supplied for blood collection from UW Health patients. Readers are urged to consult their own legal advisors for interpretation of laws and regulations that apply to their own organizations.