Abstract: Methods of amplification, purification and detection of nucleic acid sequences especially RNA are described. One aspect of the method involves the hybridisation and subsequent ligation of a nucleic acid structure to the nucleic acid sequence desired to be manipulated. The methods require that the nucleic acid structure comprises a double stranded region and a single stranded region. The single stranded region is complementary to the RNA sequence of interest. The double stranded region may also contain additional functionalities which are then used subsequently in the method.

Abstract: There is provided a method for directly typing or sequencing HLA-A, -B, or -C alleles from a tissue sample wherein exons 2 and 3 of the HLA-A, -B, or -C alleles from the sample are amplified together in a locus specific manner and then separated out and individually amplified in a locus specific manner. After the two amplifications, the amplified exons are directly sequenced, the sequences are recombined, and a comparison is made between the derived HLA allele sequence and an HLA allele database, thereby giving an exact HLA-A, -B, or -C type for the sample being tested.