IMGT/HLA Database

Frequently Asked Questions

The database receives a large number of queries, please check to see if the answer to your question is listed below, before contacting the IMGT/HLA team.

If you can't find the answer to your question listed below, please contact IMGT/HLA Support.

• I need a donor, can you help?
• What does this typing mean?
• How can I change the size of the text in the alignments?
• What does the 'Q' mean?
• What is the frequency of a certain allele in the following populations?
• How should I cite the database?
• How do I report problems with a particular tool?
• I can't find the sequence of HLA-A?
• I want the sequences in this particular format?
• I am having trouble with the sequencing software from a particular company?

I need a donor, can you help?

The IMGT/HLA Database often receives emails from patients or members of their family, asking if we can provide or search for a donor. Unfortunately, we are not a register of unrelated bone marrow (stem cell) donors, and so cannot provide a suitably matched donor for transplants. Details of how a search for an unrelated stem cell donor is done is given on the web site of Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide (BMDW). See http://www.bmdw.org/index.php?id=for_patients

What does this typing mean?

The IMGT/HLA Database often receives emails from patients or members of their family and prospective donors, asking if we can explain typing results or an HLA profile they have received. The format of the results will vary depending on the techniques and the centre used. In general results it will list the genes tested and then for each gene the alleles (the different variants) at that gene either in a numerical string or in a coded format. Please be aware that we cannot give medical advice on any typings sent to us, our reply, where appropriate, will be restricted to explaining what part of the code represents the gene and what represents the allele variants.

How can I change the size of the text in the alignments?

Depending on your browser you will need to do the following to change the size of text viewed.

• In Firefox, Mozilla and Netscape hold 'Ctrl' and press '+' or '-' to change the size of the text.
• In Internet Explorer 7 you can hold 'Ctrl' and press '+' or '-' to change the size of the text. In Internet Explorer 6 you may need to change the browser's default settings.
  Please follow the instructions below to enable you to resize the text:
  • Select "Tools" from the main menu or press "Alt" and "t"
  • Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu or press "Alt" and "o"
  • Select "Accessibility" from the options screen or press "Alt" and "e"
  • Check the box for "Ignore Font sizes specified in web pages" or press "Alt" and "z"
  • Confirm this selection using "Ok"
  You can now change the text size using the following steps:
  • Select "View" from the main menu or press "Alt" and "v"
  • Select "Text Size" from the "Tools" menu or press "x"
  • Choose the new text size
  Please note that if this does not work it could be because you computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policy.
• Safari users need to hold the 'Apple' key and press '+' or '-' in order to change the size of the text.
• In Opera, press '+' or '-' to change the size of the text.

What does the 'Q' mean?

A list of all suffixes used in allele names can be found here.

What is the frequency of a certain allele in the following populations?

The IMGT/HLA Database does not store allele frequency data. We recommend the following sources of data:

• The HLA FactsBook - Steven Marsh, Peter Parham, Linda Barber available from Academic Press
• www.allelefrequencies.net - describes the frequencies of alleles in different populations, at various polymorphic regions within Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Data may be searched under country,region,ethnic origin.
  

How should I cite the database?

For citations please use:

• Robinson J, Waller MJ, Parham P, de Groot N, Bontrop R, Kennedy LJ, Stoehr P, Marsh SGE
  IMGT/HLA and IMGT/MHC: sequence databases for the study of the major histocompatibility complex
  Nucleic Acids Research (2003), 31:311-314
  Full Text available from Nucleic Acids Research or Download PDF File

Reports problems with a particular tool

If you are having trouble with a specific tool, the alignment tool for instance, please first see if the solution is listed in the help pages provided. If this does not solve the problem contact IMGT/HLA Support. The e-mail should list the name of the tool and all the parameters used. For instance if an alignment failed to work then you should include the values used for the Locus, Specific Sequences, Type, Reference, Display, Formatting and "Cut & Paste". This better enables us to replicate and diagnose the problem.

I can't find the sequence of HLA-A?

We often get enquiries asking for a single sequence for a locus. For example, a request for the sequence of HLA-A where there is not one single sequence which represents HLA-A, this locus currently has over 300 alleles.

I want the sequences in this particular format?

Please check the FTP directory before asking for sequences in a particular format. The FTP directory contains copies of the database as FASTA, PIR and MSF formatted files. It also contains EMBL-like flat files and copies of the text versions of the alignments.

I am having trouble with the sequencing software from a particular company?

We cannot advise or support external software. If you are experiencing software trouble when sequencing HLA alleles please contact the support line for that particular make of software.

Information

For more information about the database, IMGT/HLA queries (including website) or to subscribe to the IMGT/HLA mailing list please contact IMGT/HLA Support.

Please see our licence for our terms of use.