[Detection of deletional determinants of alpha-thalassemia in Li people in Hainan province by a single tube multiplex polymerase chain reaction method].

Objective: To develop a single tube multiplex polymerase chain reaction technique (mPCR) and use it to screen 3 deletional alpha-globin genes, namely -alpha(3.7), -alpha(4.2) (single gene deletion), and --SEA (South East Asia double gene deletion) in the Li people in Hainan province.

Methods: Based on previously developed 3 separate PCR methods used to detect the -alpha(3.7), -alpha(4.2), --SEA respectively, a single tube mPCR was investigated, optimized, and used to detect the genotypes of 40 samples from well-known alpha-thalassemia patients and 116 non-relative individuals of Li nationality in Hainan province.

Results: The results of the 40 samples detected by mPCR were the same as those by the 3 separate PCR Methods. Among the 116 sample, the combined incidence of -alpha(3.7) and -alpha(4.2) was found to be as high as 38.0%, and the -alpha(4.2) genotype was more frequent than the -alpha(3.7) genotype in the Li people. No --(SEA) deletion was found in the Li people.

Conclusion: The mPCR technique shows a good sensitivity and specificity. The Hainan Li people has the highest incidence of -alpha(3.7) and -alpha(4.2) among Chinese.