The IHWG Cell and DNA Bank was established as a shared resource to support the scientific projects of the 13th International Histocompatibility Workshop (IHWS). The Cell and DNA Bank maintains a comprehensive inventory of B-lymphoblastoid cell lines, purified DNA and DNA reference panels that provide an extensive array of HLA and HLA-related sequence polymorphisms. Cloned HLA genes and B-cell lines transfected with HLA genes are also maintained in the repository and are available on a limited basis.

The core inventory consists of more than 650 cell lines from the 10th, 12th and 13th IHWS, from HLA heterozygous and homozygous donors, from selected families, and from individuals of diverse population groups. Collectively, these cell lines represent more than 375 unique HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1 alleles. Specialized reference panels and quality control panels, consisting of purified genomic DNA and assembled to support individual projects of the 13th IHWS, are available to investigators for study of the human MHC.