Detection of novel HLA alleles by Next‐Generation Sequencing in the Croatian population

The introduction of Next‐Generation Sequencing (NGS) methodology in the histocompatibility testing for both allo‐HSCT and solid organ transplantation enables the sequencing of all HLA genes, which in turn leads to the discovery of many new HLA alleles. Over the last 3 years, we have identified 28 novel alleles ( HLA‐A*02:1079, A*03:01:01:112, A*11:01:01:83, A*11:01:01:87, A*24:595, A*68:01:01:15, B*07:02:01:107, B*08:01:01:67, B*08:01:01:69, B*13:02:01:25, B*15:01:82, B*15:18:08, B*18:01:01:76, B*27:02:06, B*27:05:02:34, B*40:06:01:17, B*40:517, C*04:01:01:173, C*04:477, C*05:276, C*07:01:01:130, C*12:03:80, C*12:03:01:62, DQA1*05:01:01:10, DPB1*13:01:07, DPB1*1146:01, DPB1*1456:01 and DPB1*1514:01 ) using the NGS method. The presented data emphasises the benefits gained by the utilisation of the NGS‐based techniques in HLA genotyping but also provides new insight on the HLA polymorphism in the Croatian population.