Assignment of allotypes G1m(a+) and G1m(a-) at the genomic level by polymerase chain reaction analysis.

A method of assignment of the human immunoglobulin allotypes G1m(a+) and G1m(a-) without the use of serological reagents is described. It is based upon oligonucleotide-directed enzymatic amplification of genomic segments encoding CH3 of gamma chains, followed by dot-blot hybridization of radioactively labelled oligonucleotides to the amplified DNA. The method was used to classify the immunoglobulin allotypes of 11 persons, six G1m(a+) and five G1m(a-), and the resultant classification agreed completely with that of classical serological typing.