DQ-Alpha has four main alleles, numbered 1 through 4. The DQ-Alpha 1 and 4 alleles have sub-types (1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 4.1, 4.2, 4.3). However, the strips could not recognize the specific 1.2 allele nor could they distinguish between the 4.2 and 4.3 alleles.

The concept was extended to incorporate a number of other loci to be typed concomitantly with DQ-Alpha, and marketed as Polymarker in 1993.  A kit containing reagent for both DQ-Alpha and Polymarker became quite popular.  The system was sensitive and easy to use but even the combination kit did not afford the discrimination power of RFLP.

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