Genetic diagnosis of factor V Leiden using heteroduplex technology

A new genetic test has been developed for detection of the mutation known as factor V Leiden. The test employs heteroduplex technology and comprises a single PCR reaction followed immediately by PCR product analysis. It therefore represents the minimum practical route from blood/tissue sample to genetic result. A cohort of 100 patients with a history of thrombosis have been screened using both the new heteroduplex test and a previously described PCR-restriction endonuclease test. Results gave 100% correlation: normals 75 (75%), heterozygotes 24 (24%) and homozygotes 1 (1%). The heteroduplex test has been shown to give straightforward diagnosis in three different analytical systems: standard polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), mini-gel PAGE and capillary electrophoresis. The latter system is semiautomated, therefore rapid through-put of large sample numbers is now possible.