Real-world Experience of Using HLA-B*27 Tag-single-nucleotide Polymorphism Assay to Screen for Axial Spondyloarthritis.

We previously published an analytical validation of the HLA-B*27 tag-single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay in The Journal 1 based on the initial identification of the HLA-B*27 tag-SNP by the International Genetics of Ankylosing Spondylitis Consortium. Our tag-SNP assay is much cheaper than the traditional HLA-B locus testing, and has been implemented at the Provincial Medical Genetics Laboratory of Eastern Health (St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada) since August 1, 2016. The data on the use of this assay have been systematically collected.