Patient serum X gave a 10-channel shift versus NHS in a flow cytometry crossmatch. How should this crossmatch be interpreted?

The interpretation of a 10-channel shift versus normal human serum (NHS) in a flow cytometry crossmatch results can vary significantly based on the specific protocols and standard operating procedures (SOP) of the HLA laboratory performing the test. A shift of this magnitude indicates that there may be some level of reactivity between the patient serum and the donor cells, but the clinical significance is not universally defined.

Some laboratories may interpret a 10-channel shift as a positive result, indicating a potential for antibody-mediated rejection, while others might use different thresholds to make determinations based on their established cutoff values or the context of the clinical situation.

Therefore, because there is no single consensus on how to interpret this specific data point across all labs, the result's interpretation is indeed dependent on the HLA lab's guidelines and practices. This highlights the importance of understanding that laboratory standards and definitions can affect how results are categorized in transfusion and transplantation immunology.