HLA B58 Screen for Allopurinol Sensitivity

HLA-B*58:01 Screening for Allopurinol Hypersensitivity

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231982, Beaker: HLA-B*58:01

Department

HLA

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Yellow-top ACD tube OR one Pink-top OR one Lavender-top EDTA tube. Invert several times to mix well. 

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Do not refrigerate or freeze specimen. Maintain whole blood at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport. Transport to the Laboratory within 72 hours of collection.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Whole blood at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F).

Rejection Criteria

• Unlabeled specimens.
• Specimens drawn in clot, SST, or Heparin tubes.
• This test will only be performed once in a lifetime for a patient.

In-Lab Processing

1. Harvest lymphocytes from whole blood by density centrifugation.
2. Extract DNA from lymphocytes.
3. Perform SSOP for HLA Class I gene products using commercially available Sequence Specific Oligonucleotide Priming (SSOP) kits.
4. Followed by interpretation to determine HLA Class I genotype.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 72 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Frozen (-80°C): 2 years (DNA)

Laboratory

Royal Oak HLA Laboratory

Performed

Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Results available within 7 days.

Reference Range

Negative or positive for HLA-B*58:01.

Test Methodology

Sequence Specific Oligonucleotide Priming (SSOP) for HLA Class I Genotyping.

Clinical Utility

The FDA recommends that genetic testing for HLA-B*58:01 be performed prior to prescribing Allopurinol. The presence of HLA-B*58:01 is associated with a drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction to Allopurinol that can be prevented with prior genetic screening.

CPT Codes

81381
LOINC: 50956-2

Contacts

Last Updated

4/23/2026