APOL1
African Americans have a much higher rate of non-diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) than populations without recent African ancestry.

Quick Facts
Test Turnaround
24hrs
Method
PCR
Risk Allele Frequency
30%
Almost all of this increased risk is associated with two DNA sequence variants in the APOL1 gene designated G1 and G2. The G1 and G2 alleles are mutually exclusive, never occurring on the same copy of the chromosome, and therefore these risk alleles show an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. The inheritance of two risk alleles, either G1/G1, G2/G2, or G1/G2, are required to confer the additional risk of kidney disease, which is characterized by a 7- to 10- increased risk for hypertension-associated end-stage renal disease; 10- to 17- fold increased risk for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and a 29- fold increased risk for HIV-associated nephropathy. APOL1 risk variants are also associated with progression to ESRD in African American patients with lupus nephritis. There is no statistically significant difference between the risk of kidney disease in individuals with no risk alleles as compared to those with only one risk allele. The APOL1 G1 and G2 risk alleles are very common in African Americans (30% allele frequency) due to evolutionary selection for their protective effect against parasitic trypanosome infection (African sleeping disease) but are rare in non- African chromosomes.
Findings on renal biopsy which suggest the presence of APOL1 risk alleles include collapsing glomerulopathy in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Histopathologic findings in patients with chronic kidney disease which suggest the presence of APOL1 risk alleles include solidified glomeruli, thyroidization-type tubular atrophy, and microcystic tubular dilatation.
Reasons for Testing:
- Determining risk status in an African American patient, particularly in patients with SLE, membranous glomerulopathy, or HIV
- Patient being considered for kidney donation
- Determination of carrier status in a family member
- Biopsy findings that suggest APOL1 risk alleles (see above)
Reach out to request kits or get more information.
Contact Us for More InfoAcceptable Specimens
Find more information on the APOL1 Consent and Requisition Form below.
Paraffin block or five unstained slides | |
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Peripheral blood (preferred): At least 2ml in Lavender top (EDTA) tube Shipped overnight at room temperature | |
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buccal swab: swab shipped overnight at room temperature in a DNA stabilization pouch/vial (e.g. isohelix rapiDri pouch) | |
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Previously extracted DNA: 10ul suspended in TE buffer at 10-100ng/ul (must be from a CAP/CLIA certified lab) | |
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Transport overnight in a frozen state (dry-ice) M-Th | |
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Samples must have two patient identifiers, preferably the patient’s name and date of birth | |
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Each sample must be accompanied by a requisition form with the declaration signed by the ordering provider | |
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Kit Provided | ||
Shipping Provided | |
Test References
- Histopathologic findings associated with APOL1 risk variants in chronic kidney disease learn more
- Association of trypanolytic ApoL1 variants with kidney disease in African Americans learn more
- APOL1 genetic variants in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and HIV-associated nephropathy learn more
- End-stage renal disease in African Americans with lupus nephritis is associated with APOL1 learn more
- Evolution of the primate trypanolytic factor APOL1 learn more