HLA-Bis involved in the recognition of self and foreign peptides.The allelic variant HLA-B27is present in about 8% of healthy Caucasians and is well known as genetic risk factor for spondyloarthropathies. Up to 96% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (MorbusBechterew) and up to 80% of patients with reactive arthritis carry the HLA-B27 allele. Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, inflammatory arthritis that mainly affects spinal joints and the sacroiliac joint. Patients suffer from chronic pain and stiffness in the back and pelvis and, with progressing disease, often develop spinal fusion. The disease usually manifests between 15-30 years of age and is three times more prevalent in males than in females. Often a time period of 5-10 years elapses between early, nonspecific symptoms and a definite diagnosis.

Specimen Requirements - 2 ml of peripheral blood collected in an EDTA (lavender top) vacutainer tube.

Transport - the specimen should be refrigerated (for 1or 2 days) and shipped at room temperature. 

Reporting time - 10-15 days

(DNA test for all currently known HLA-B27 subtypes: B*2701 to B2786*, except for a few, very rare and disease-unrelated alleles).

For further information please contact:
Tel.: (+374 10) 544367
Fax: (+374 10) 544366
E-mail: infocmg@genetics.sci.am