DonorCheck: A quality control tool to validate the interpretation and data entry of HLA typing results used for organ allocation

Abstract

HLA (human leukocyte antigen) typing is performed on both organ donors and recipients to ensure compatibility and thus maximize graft and patient survival. In the US, the final assigned HLA typing is then entered, often manually, into the DonorNet system managed by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), where it is used to generate a list of potential recipients. For deceased donor organs, HLA typing is most often performed via real-time PCR (rtPCR), which is rapid and robust but requires human interpretation. Human error in that interpretation or in the data entry process (regardless of whether the typing is generated by rtPCR or sequencing) can have severe consequences including organ wastage due to inappropriate matching and graft rejection. UNOS requires laboratories to validate the accuracy of their DonorNet submission. To address this need, we have developed DonorCheck (https://github.com/PankratzLab/DonorCheck/), an open-source and user-friendly software application written in Java that validates DonorNet field entries against the original donor HLA typing source report. DonorCheck helps HLA laboratories independently validate their interpretation of rtPCR data (including accounting for allele, P-group, and serotype lookup) and the HLA data entry into DonorNet, reduce data entry errors, and enhance patient safety.

Keywords: Catching data entry errors; HLA typing; Interpretation of real-time PCR HLA assays; Quality control software; Sequencing data; Transplantation.