A new HLA-A02 allele, A0234, detected by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP)

: A novel HLA‐A*02 allele, A*0234, was identified in a potential unrelated bone marrow donor typed by polymerase chain reaction using sequence‐specific primers (PCR‐SSP). Positive reactions obtained upon testing with PCR‐SSP did not fit any known combination of alleles indicating the possible presence of a novel allele. Sequencing of clones from this individual revealed the presence of a novel allele, HLA‐A*0234. The sequence of exons 2, 3 and part of exon 4 showed that A*0234 differed from A*02011 by a single nucleotide in exon 2 at position 282 (C to G). The nucleotide substitution results in an amino acid change at residue 70 (Histidine to Glutamine) in the α1 domain ( Note).