Alliance to Develop HLA-Typing Method

A collaborative agreement to evaluate and develop methods for typing human leukocyte antigens (HLA) using a simple-to-use sequencing technology has been announced by Pel-Freez Clinical Systems LLC (Stockholm, Sweden) and the Molecular Diagnostics Business Unit of Pyrosequencing AB (Milwaukee, WI, USA). The announcement was made at the conference of the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics in San Francisco (CA, USA).

HLA genes are highly variable, which has a significant impact on patients undergoing organ and bone marrow transplantation. To achieve the highest clinical success, the goal in transplantation is to accurately match the patterns of HLA variability of the donor and patient. DNA-based method for HLA typing have enabled diagnostic labs to better identify appropriate donors. Pel-Freez and Pyrosequencing plan to base their new typing method on proprietary technology developed by Pyrosequencing. This technology is broadly applicable for the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and for the identification and quantification of short DNA sequences used in bacterial and viral typing.

"We believe the Pyrosequencing platform will be truly novel in the HLA field with its ability to simultaneously deliver speed, resolving power, and versatility,” said Frank Langley, president of Pel-Freez.




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