[Simple and rapid detection of HLA-DRB polymorphism from forensic samples]

Simple and rapid detection of HLA-DRB polymorphism has been performed using AMPLICOR HLA-DRB Typing Kit. We tried to apply this kit to various forensic samples. When DNA was extracted from the forensic samples using conventional phenol-chloroform method, addition of 7.5 mM MgCl2 was required to PCR amplification. HLA-DRB types were detected from DNA more than 0.1 ng by PCR amplification. Typing of unrelated 50 Japanese showed 38 different patterns, of which 30 patterns occurred once in the group. A total of 16 serotypes were deduced from the HLA-DRB DNA types. Out of them, high frequency serotypes were DR4 (24%), DR9 (18%) and DR15/16 (14%). This kit was very useful in forensic cases such as rape and in paternity cases. When we tried to detect HLA-DRB types from a single hair shaft of 3 cm in length, we were successful in detection from only one of five persons.