ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To ascertain whether the carrier rate is high in Quanzhou which is next to Taiwan in South of the Yangtze River.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Population analysis of three SLC25A13 mutations, i.e. 851del4, 1638-1660 dup, and IVS6+ 5G to A was carried out in 450 healthy individuals. DNA diagnostic method of 851del4 was improved by using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism( PCR-RFLP) with restriction enzyme HpyCH4 IV, and the results were confirmed by GeneScan method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six carriers with 851del4, 3 with 1638-1660 dup and 3 with IVS6+ 5G to A was found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The high carrier rate (0.027, 12/450) obtained from testing of only three mutations indicated that there must be a certain number of patients with citrin deficiency in Quanzhou, even in Fujian. Therefore, it is important for physicians in Quanzhou, Fujian province to learn about citrin deficiency, and to diagnose and treat the patients correctly.</p>