The polymorphism at the HLA-DPB1 locus was investigated in 490 Austrian individuals. Exon 2 sequences of the HLA-DPB1 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and probed with a panel of sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes. HLA-DPB1 genotypes were deduced from the hybridization pattern of the probes. HLA-DPB1 allele frequencies and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were calculated. Linkage disequilibria between HLA-DPB1 and HLA-DQA1 alleles were determined. Four novel hybridization patterns indicating new alleles were found.