A RAPID AND RELIABLE PCR METHOD FOR GENOTYPING THE ABO BLOOD-GROUP .2. A(2) AND O-2 ALLELES

PCR permits direct genotyping of individuals at the ABO locus, Several methods have been reported for genotyping ABO that rely on differenti ating the A, B, and O alleles at specific base substitutions. However, the O allele as defined by serology comprises at least two alleles (O -1 and O-2) at the molecular level, and most current ABO genotyping me thods only take into account the O-1 allele. Determining the presence of the O-2 allele is critical, as this not infrequent allele would be mistyped as an A or a B aIlele by standard PCR typing methods, Further more, none of the methods to date distinguish between the A(1) and A(2 ) alleles, even though 10% of all white persons are blood group A(2). We have developed a method for genotyping the ABO locus that takes the O-2 and A(2) alleles into account. Typing for AZ and O-2 by diagnosti c restriction enzyme digestion is a sensitive, nonradioactive assay th at provides a convenient method useful for forensic and paternity test ing and for clarifying anomalous serological results. (C) 1996 Wiley-L iss, Inc.