MOLECULAR-BIOLOGY METHODS FOR DETERMINATI ON OF NA ANTIGENS

Of the granulocyte-specific antigens, the NA1 and NA2 antigens are of most clinical importance. Since isolation of a sufficient number of gr anulocytes for serotyping is often not possible from the patient's blo od samples, we adapted the techniques of polymerase chain reaction (PC R) with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) and PCR with subsequent hy bridization of sequence-specific oligonucleotides (PCR-SSO) for DNA-ba sed NA typing. The DNA typing results of altogether 114 individuals we re compared with the phenotypes determined by the antigen capture assa y MAIGA and the granulocyte immunofluorescence test. The DNA typing an d the MAIGA results correlated perfectly, whereas by immunofluorescenc e mistyping rates of 15 and 17%, respectively, were observed. Our resu lts indicate that for reliable NA typing a DNA-based technique or the MAIGA assay should be used.