Post mortem HLA-DR typing of donor corneas using DNA-hybridization technique

Abstract
With donor material kept under banking conditions, corneal grafting is today an elective routine surgical procedure. Increasing evidence suggests that the clinical results may be improved by HLA matching. However, serological tests require that a blood sample be taken while the donor is still alive or shortly post mortem. We report HLA-DR donor typing with a DNA hybridization technique using DNA isolated from the donor eye more than 24 h post mortem. The practical implications of this procedure are briefly discussed.