[A rapid and simple method for direct genotype determination of ABO blood group]

We report the use of an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) format together with low melting temperature agarose gel electrophoresis which allows rapid identification of the six major genotypes of the ABO blood group. Four sequence specific primer sets, each specific for a different set of ABO alleles, were used. Twenty individuals, whose ABO genotypes were previously determined by serological and family analysis, were typed with this new approach. A 100% correlation between serology and the ASPCR was found. This method is rapid, simple, and reproducible. Potential applications include identification of ABO subgroups and variants, paternity testing, as well as forensic science.