Identification of a New HLA-B allele (B*1576) by haplotype specific extraction

Routine typing of a potential bone marrow donor by sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes and sequence based typing produced inconclusive subtyping results, suggesting a new allele. A magnetic bead-based method, haplotype specific extraction (HSE), was used to separate the diploid sample into its haploid components. The sample was then re-typed using standard sequence-based typing (SBT), revealing a new human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele, since named B*1576. HSE used in conjunction with standard SBT is a convenient and simple tool for resolving ambiguous and novel allele combinations without the need for amplification or subcloning.