Commentary on the JSHI Certification Paper Test 2023

Abstract

The Japanese Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (JSHI) has implemented a certification system for HLA technologists and histocompatibility directors to enhance and maintain their skills and knowledge in histocompatibility testing. The society holds an annual written examination for certification during its conference. Although practice examinations were cancelled in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were held again in 2023, we returned to its approach of explaining low correct-response rate questions from the practice examination, and the society plans to continue this important opportunity.

The distribution of average scores has not significantly changed; however, this year’s trend of low-correct-response-rate questions differs from previous years, as they were dominated by basic HLA studies rather than conventional immunology, statistics, and ethics-fields questions. One reason for this is the increase in members with relatively little practical experience aspiring to obtain certification in the future. Another reason is the missed opportunities to learn about HLA studies and gather information by attending meetings during the Corona disaster. In the present time, I focus on the basics and describe seven typical HLA questions among the 19 difficult questions, explaining the intention of the questions and the key points to derive the correct answers.