Platelet Donor Selection Registry

Canadian Blood Services has a registry of HLA and HPA typed platelet apheresis donors. This registry, known as PDS (Platelet Donor Selection) is a computerized model developed by CBS for the selection of HLA/HPA compatible donors for alloimmunized patients. It allows the user to perform searches at both local and national levels (with the exception of Héma-Québec). The system supports two groups of patients: refractory patients with haematological malignancies and infants with Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia (NAIT).

Donors enrolled in the platelet apheresis program are DNA typed for HLA and HPA-1. At the present time PDS lists over 13000 donors. Of these, approximately 49% are typed for HPA-1. Currently there are 129 HPA-1a negative platelet apheresis donors in the registry. A small number of donors are also typed for HPA-2 to-6 and -15 to support infants affected by NAIT due to antibodies other than anti-HPA-1a. Three centres collect HPA-1a negative platelets weekly, which allow us to maintain a small inventory available nationally.