[HLA-DQ allele typing in a Senegalese population: comparative study of serology and PCR-SSP]

In this study, we compared the serological standard typing method and the DNA genotyping PCR-SSP for the characterization of HLA-DQ alleles in a senegalese population. For this purpose, 120 individuals leaving in Dielmo were typed using the microlymphocytotoxicity assay and the PCR-SSP DQ low Resolution method. A discordance of 42.5% (51/120) was found between these two methods. Thirty % (36/120) of serological typed persons failed to be typed by PCR-SSP method whereas 1% (1/120) assigned by PCR-SSP failed to be characterized by serology. Advantages and limits of these two typing methods and also the genetic background of our study population were valid arguments to comment our findings. The PCR-SSP, as suggested by several authors, is reliable, accurate and fast for HLA class II alleles characterization. Nevertheless, it needs, to become an alternative HLA typing method, available primers adapted to genetic background of study population.