Karnataka to introduce HLA test to check donor-recipient relationship for kidney transplantSaturday, August 18, 2007 08:00 IST
Nandita Vijay, Bangalore
Karnataka government is in discussion with nephrology experts on the introduction of mandatory Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) typing to determine the relationship between kidney donors and recipients. The test will check the false claims of relationship before the magistrate while obtaining certificates which are produced before the Authorization Committee for Organ Transplants.
Such a test has not been compulsory anywhere in the country despite scores of kidney transplant activities. Presently, HLA test is only recommended only if the donor is a sibling and not for all cases. Also most donors are one of the couples. It is gathered that wives form the largest component of donors for their husbands.
The results of HLA, a type of protein is used to identify good matches for tissue grafts and organ transplants like kidney or bone arrow transplants. Test is also used to determine the relationship between children and parents when such relationships are an issue.
A relatively unique set of HLA are found in every human being and they are inherited from the parents. In a person, half of the HLA matches with the HLA of his mother and remaining half with that of the father. But it is unlikely that the two unrelated people will have the identical HLA make up.
According to a section of nephrologists, HLA test has its limitations and is of no use even if it is made compulsory. But the Karnataka government is insisting on the test because they are looking at the major and minor compatibility option in couples and relatives during kidney donation.
The need for the HLA test comes in following the kidney racket that rocked the State early this week where the organs were sold by poor people who forged certificates and hood winked the Authorization Committee that cleared cases for transplant.
Now the government has constituted a committee headed by the Bangalore City Joint Commissioner of Police Gopal Hosur to conduct an inquiry into the racket in kidney trade that has come to light in and around Bangalore. The Police have recovered photographs of the donors, bogus ration cards, income certificates and other documents.
The Committee, which also includes police officials from the City Crime Branch. The health department officials have also been asked to submit report in two months.
The state government has also constituted three teams of doctors from the department of health and family welfare to visit the hospitals all over the state and verify the records concerning the kidney transplant during the last five years. The teams have been directed to submit their reports within a week.
Since January 2007, 64 people donated kidneys to their relatives and 30 cases of non- relatives donating kidney have also been reported. The HLA test will help to put an end to the unrelated kidney transplantation, stated minister for health and family welfare, R Ashok.
There are 29 hospitals in Karnataka at Mangalore, Belgaum, Mysore and Bangalore which have been cleared for the Kidney transplantation.
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