HLA Match

The success of a bone marrow and cord blood transplants relies on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) marker matching between donors and recipients. HLA are proteins, types of markers, found throughout the body that signal the immune system to identify foreign cells from non-foreign cells.  A close match between a donor’s and patient’s HLA markers is paramount for a successful transplant and for reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).