Post # 29
HLA Testing Kits

Bill has been feeling much better these past two days while he is on the Neupogen. We are both hoping that the effects will last long after his last injection today. Bill's next appointment with Dr. Castro is Monday morning, the blood results will tell the story. We should also find out what the next steps are regarding treatment and testing, such as bone marrow biopsy and ultra sound of the spleen.

I called Moffitt the other day to find out the status of the testing kits since none of the siblings had received one. It seems there was a delay in getting insurance authorization and there for two week delay in sending out kits. I was informed that the kits were sent out on Tuesday.
Well, the Kits have starting arriving at the siblings houses!! Margy received her kit and had the blood sample drawn and back in the mail the same day. Lue received her kit on Thursday and will have to wait until Monday to have the blood sample taken. Ed will probably receive his kit today and will have his sample drawn on Monday or Tuesday. The instructions indicate that the blood sample should be taken on a Monday or a Tuesday. We assume that is due to the time between draw and receipt of the sample at Moffitt. If the blood sample gets there late Friday or during the week-end it might not be usable, since the staff that do the HLA testing are probably not working during the week-end. The lag time from receipt of the blood sample at Moffitt to results will take between two to three weeks. Remember, each of the siblings has a 25% chance of being a match.

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