SEROLOGY VERSUS ARMS-PCR IN PROSPECTIVE HLA-CLASS-I TYPING FOR BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

While HLA class II alleles identification by means of complement media ted lymphocytotoxicity (serology) is almost replaced by DNA typing tec hniques, serology is still widely used for routine class I typing. The aim of this prospective study was to compare PCR-based Amplification Refractory Mutation System with serology in clinical HLA class I allel es assignment in patients receiving marrow transplants and their poten tial donors. The total discrepancy rate in 114 consecutively typed ind ividuals for HLA-A and HLAC alleles was only in favor of ARMS-PCR, whe reas HLA-B typing was discrepant also in favor of serology. The discre pancies were higher in patients. particularily in those with acute lym phoblastic leukaemia, than in healthy individuals, We conclude, that A RMS-PCR is clearly superior to serology in definition of class I allel es, which might be of clinical importance particularly for bone marrow transplantation.