DNA typing of class I HLA alleles

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in man, the HLA-complex, is for its marked significance in the regulation of immune system reactions and for its important role in clinical medicine the object of incessant interest for further studies. There is also a constant search for new methods of HLA typing. HLA antigens have been traditionally detected by serological and cellular methods. Recently HLA typing methods based on DNA typing utilising polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are being introduced. PCR-SSO (sequence-specific oligonucleotide) and PCR-SSP (sequence-specific primers) methods are most frequently used for routine typing of HLA class I alleles. We present technical details of the PCR-SSP method, recently introduced at our department and a short review of other techniques. (Fig. 1, Ref. 34.)