Hemoglobin E and codon 17 nonsense: two beta-globin gene mutations common in Southeast Asia detected by the use of ARMS.

Hemoglobin E (codon 26 GAG-->AAG) and codon 17 nonsense (AAG-->TAG), two clinically important mutations of the beta-globin gene, are common in Southeast Asia. The detection of these mutations using allele-specific PCR is described. Together with the previously reported method for the detection of the common Southeast asian codon 41-42 frameshift mutation (del CTTT), it is possible to identify the vast majority of clinically important beta-globin gene mutations in Southeast Asian populations by means of nonradioactive methods.