The amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) is a simple and rapid method of detecting point mutations, restriction fragment length polymorphisms, and small deletions or insertions of a DNA sequence. The method was first described by Newton et al. (1 ) for the analysis of single nucleotide differences in DNA from patients with α − 1 antitrypsin deficiency and has since been applied for the carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of many other genetics disorders including cystic fibrosis (2 ), β thalassaemia (3 ), and sickle cell disease (4 ).
