Sequence-Based Typing of HLA: An Improved Group-Specific Full-Length Gene Sequencing Approach

Matching for HLA at the allele level is crucial for stem cell transplantation. The golden standard approach for allele definition of full gene polymorphism, the so-called high-resolution HLA typing, is sequence-based typing (SBT). Although the majority of the polymorphism for class I is located in exons 2 and 3 and for class II in exon 2, for allele definition it is necessary to unravel the complete coding and intron sequences leading to an ultrahigh HLA typing resolution at the allele level, i.e., a full-length gene polymorphism identification.