April 2026 - Friends of ASHI Edition

Is It Time to Upgrade Your Membership?

Watch this video to discover the perks and benefits available with a dues paying ASHI membership.

See what an ASHI Membership can do for you: Watch the Happy Hour replay

The Technologists' Affairs Committee held a Happy Hour titled Engage, Educate, Empower: Encouraging ASHI Membership Across the HLA Team on March 25th. The recording can be found on ASHI University under Recorded Webinars.

Participants learned how to identify opportunities to better engage non‑member HLA laboratory staff and communicate the value of ASHI membership. They heard practical strategies from current ASHI members from various perspectives on fostering participation, supporting professional development, and creating a culture of involvement within their labs. Attendees left with actionable approaches to strengthen connection and knowledge‑sharing across their teams.

ASHI Celebrates Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2026

ASHI is excited to celebrate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week with our incredible community! This year’s festivities are packed with fun, featuring engaging activities, interactive games, and exciting prizes to recognize and celebrate the vital work you do every day.

Don’t miss out on all the details! Check out the full announcement to see how you can join the fun.

Each year the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics sponsors awards to recognize scientific accomplishments and contributions to the fields of histocompatibility and immunogenetics as well as service to the society. ASHI is currently accepting nominations for the following awards:

• J. Marilyn MacQueen Rising Star Award
• Distinguished Service Award
• Bernard Amos Distinguished Scientist Award
• Rose Payne Award
• Outstanding Technologist Award

Click here for eligibility requirements. Send nominations and supporting information to Jeana Hoffman. The nomination deadline for all ASHI awards is May 31, 2026. To view former award winners, please click here.

Click here to watch the informational recording and to learn more about eligibility criteria, the application process, etc. The application deadline for both awards is June 30th.

Each year the Human Immunology Editorial Board awards the best original research papers and the best review papers from two years previous. The top papers in each category published in 2024 were chosen based on citation and download statistics gathered from 2025. Many thanks to the ASHI members whose very generous donation makes these annual awards possible. Click here to view the winning papers. An ASHI membership includes access to Human Immunology online publications.

19th IHIWS: The Fourth Newsletter

We're pleased to share the fourth newsletter from the International HLA and Immunogenetics Workshop (IHIWS). The IHIWS continues to play a vital role in advancing collaboration, research, and innovation within the global histocompatibility and immunogenetics community. This latest newsletter highlights ongoing initiatives, scientific progress, and opportunities for engagement that are shaping the future of the field. We are proud to help amplify these important updates and encourage our members to stay informed and involved in this international effort.  Read the newsletter.

CLIA Transitioned to Paperless Operations

The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) completed its transition to a paperless system. CMS no longer mails CLIA certificates or paper fee coupons. Additionally, all CLIA certification and survey fees must be paid online. Laboratories must have a valid email address on file

Contact your State Agency

FAQs

Visit the CLIA website

Update from the OPTN on the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients

ASHI recently shared an update from the

Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) on the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR).

PAMA Reporting Deadline Approaching: Are You Ready?

The next data collection and reporting cycle is underway. Under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) of 2014, certain laboratories must collect and report private payor rate information to CMS/Medicare. ASHI is committed to keeping members informed and prepared.

The Laboratory Professionals Recruitment Initiative Taskforce, part of the Technologists' Affairs Committee, requests your participation in two surveys that will provide the data needed to sustain a highly skilled laboratory workforce. Both anonymous surveys will be open for a limited time. Please complete each survey only once.

HLA Laboratory Practice

& Compensation Survey

Workplace Satisfaction Survey

ASCP has partnered with ASHI to advocate for the compensation the reflects the complexity of our field. Your participation will help provide data needed to demonstrate why professionals in this specialty are set apart from other clinical laboratory roles.

Take the survey by April 24th

This survey is for HLA professionals working in ASHI member labs. Responses will inform retention strategies and resources.

Participants will be entered into a $20 gift card drawing.

Send your response by April 30th

2026 AC-1 Survey Shipment – April 22nd

The AC-1 survey will ship on Wednesday, April 22, with the AO modules (modules containing no cells for crossmatching) shipping 2 days earlier on Monday, April 20^th.

2026 EMO-1 (& cell subset) Submission Deadline – May 1st

EMO-1 results are due Friday, May 1st. Result entry instructions are in the PT Data Center and a tutorial is on the PT page of the ASHI website. Results for the optional EMO-1 cell subset challenge are also due May 1st and should be submitted via the Google Forms link provided to registrants.

Viewing/Re-Opening PT Results (prior to the deadline)

If PT results are re-opened or viewed in the PT Data Center after submission, the lab must “SUBMIT” again even if no changes are made. Failing to do so negatively impacts the status of your submitted results.