This study describes HLA allele and eplet frequencies in BC to compare the likelihood of matching for kidney transplantation by each method. 

1846 subjects were sequenced for 11 HLA genes, and alleles and eplet frequencies were compared across donor and patient populations.	

361 alleles were identified and translated to 150 eplets; a 59% reduction in complexity. Alleles and eplets showed a bidirectional relationship: eplet 77T occurred in 66 alleles while 164VQ in 1 allele. Allele frequencies across waitlisted patients, transplanted patients, live donors, and deceased donors differed significantly between patient and donor groups (p<0.0001) but not in eplet frequencies between any groups (p=N.S). Three class I eplet clusters were consistently identified across the four groups. Cluster 1 included eplets coded by A2 alleles, cluster 2 with A1 eplets, and cluster 3 excluded these eplets. 

Eplet-typing reduces genetic complexity between patients and donors and thus potentially simplifying matching for transplantation.

Population Analysis of HLA Eplet and Allele Frequencies to Assess the Feasibility of Eplet-Matching in Canada