Genotyping for known Mediterranean α-thalassemia point mutations using a multiplex amplification refractory mutation system

Abstract

We report the conditions of a multiplex-amplifiction refractory mutation system (ARMS) for genotyping for nine known mutations of the α2-globin gene and of the ARMS assay for the detection of α1 Hb J-Oxford and −α3.7 -AC. The method is reproducible, reliable, simple, rapid, inexpensive and provides genotype diagnosis in >70% of point-mutation carriers in Mediterranean countries. Moreover, it allows investigation of the structure of mutated alleles by sequencing ARMS-amplicons.