PRA results indicate the level of antibodies in a person's blood that could react against potential organ donors.
The PRA (Panel Reactive Antibody) score is a measure used in organ transplantation. It is expressed as a percentage, ranging from 0 to 99 percent. This percentage represents the likelihood of your blood having an antibody against a particular donor (Kransdorf et al., 2017).
Understanding Your PRA Score
Your PRA score is determined by testing your blood sample against a panel of blood cells from different individuals (donors). If your blood contains antibodies that react with a high percentage of the samples in the panel, your PRA score will be high. Conversely, if your blood reacts with few or none of the samples, your score will be low.
- Low PRA (e.g., 0-19%): This suggests you have few or no antibodies against typical donor tissues. Finding a compatible donor is generally easier.
- Moderate PRA (e.g., 20-79%): You have antibodies against a portion of the potential donor pool.
- High PRA (e.g., 80-99%): This indicates you have antibodies against a large percentage of the donor population. Finding a compatible donor who doesn't trigger an immune reaction can be more challenging.
As noted by Kransdorf et al. (2017), a PRA of 20% means you have antibodies against approximately to 20% of the population.
Why is the PRA Score Important?
The PRA score is a crucial factor in determining the likelihood of a successful organ transplant. A high PRA score means the recipient has a higher chance of rejecting an organ from a randomly selected donor due to the presence of pre-existing antibodies. Transplant centers use the PRA score, along with other compatibility tests (like tissue typing), to match recipients with suitable donors and reduce the risk of rejection.
Key Takeaways
- PRA stands for Panel Reactive Antibody.
- It's a percentage (0-99%) indicating the presence of antibodies against potential donors.
- A higher PRA means more antibodies, making it harder to find a compatible donor.
- It helps predict the likelihood of your blood having an antibody against a particular donor (Kransdorf et al., 2017).
