Remarkable differences were observed in antigen frequencies (AF), gene frequencies (GF) and haplotype frequencies (HF) when 2441 healthy Chinese individuals representing nine different ethnic groups and living in 14 different geographic locations were examined for the genetic distribution of the various HLA Class I and II markers. A sizable number of individuals of each ethnic group within each of the three major categories of the Chinese population, namely, Hans, Mongols, and Southern minorities, have been studied here, providing useful population statistics for applications such as determination of probabilities of paternity, comparisons for HLA and disease associations, and anthropologic studies.

HLA-DR, DQ specificities are determined by serological methods in 2,586 North American Caucasians. Antigen frequency, gene frequency and haplotype frequency are computed for each phenotype observed. The DR and DQ loci antigen distributions are well-fitted to a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p greater than 0.25 for DR locus, p greater than 0.10 for DQ locus). All World Health Organization (WHO) recognized HLA-DR,DQ specificities were found except HLA-DRw18, which has been identified only in the black population. DR and DQ linkage disequilibria among recently defined splits is observed. The following DR and DQ associations are found: DR1 and DQw5; DR4 and DQw7, DQw8; DR7 and DQw2, DQw9; DR8 and DQw4, DQw6, DQw7; DR9 and DQw2, DQw9; DRw10 and DQw5; DRw11 and DQw6, DQw7; DRw12 and DQw5, DQw7; DRw13 and DQw6, DQw7; DRw14 and DQw5, DQW7; DRw15 and DQw6, DQw7; DRw16 and DQw5; DRw17 and DQw2. In this large study population, the following unusual DR and DQ associations are found: DR4, DQw2; DR4, DQw1; DR1, DQw7; DR7, DQw5; DRw17, DQw6; and other unusual haplotype phenotypes containing DRX, DQX.

The HLA‐A and HLA‐B phenotypes of 329 unrelated Haitian adults were determined and gene and haplotype frequencies were estimated. A summary of the data is presented together with a brief comparison with American Black, American White, and African Black populations. HLA gene and haplotype frequencies of Haitians are quite similar to those for American Blacks. The frequency of Aw34 appears to be smaller in Haitians than in American and African Blacks. No statistically significant differences were found in the frequencies of B‐locus antigens.

In 1974, the Taiwan National Blood Program had not yet been fully developed. The volunteer donor base was less than 5% and there was no organized national structure or regulation of blood services. Following the founding of the Blood Donation Association and the Blood Services Foundation, promotion of an all-volunteer blood program, increased utilization of blood components and the standardization of laboratory methods were strategies that led to the development of the Taiwan National Blood Program. In 1991, 1,066,082 units of blood were collected in Taiwan, serving a population of about 20 million. There are currently 6 major blood centers and 13 blood stations. Blood donation is now 100% volunteer and 78% of all blood collected is separated into 10 available components. With national organization and regulation, the transition has taken 17 years and has resulted in a community-based, all-volunteer blood supply.

This is the first report characterizing HLA antigen distribution in North American Indians of the Chippewa tribe. One hundred seventy-four Chippewa from Minnesota underwent HLA-A,B,C,DR, and DQ typing in a search for a single unrelated bone marrow donor. The high matching rate of this successful search is attributed to homozygosity and the extreme frequency of certain antigens in this small ethnic community. It is emphasized that smaller donor pools are required in searches within a minority population. GM and KM allotype typing as well as blood group Diego typing show patterns similar to those reported in other North American Indian groups.