Detection of Mutations by the Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS)

The amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) is a simple and rapid method of detecting point mutations, restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), and small nucleotide insertions or deletions. The method was first described by Newton et al. (1 ) for analyzing single DNA base differences in patients with α-1-antitrypsin deficiency and has since been applied to prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection of cystic fibrosis (2 ) and β-thalassemia (3 ).