Some alleles of the HLA-DQB1 and DQA1 loci are preferentially associated with susceptibility to type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Analysis of the HLA-DQ genetic profile may therefore become important for the screening of subjects at risk of IDDM. However ethnic variations in the genetic profile can occur and require background knowledge of the HLA-DQ allelic distribution before screening campaigns. In the present work, HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 genes have been analyzed, after PCR amplification of the genomic DNA, in French and Algerian control subjects (a total of 148) and diabetic patients (a total of 107). Allelic distributions have been investigated in view of a) possible inter-ethnic differences; b) identification of risk and protective alleles and c) the prevalence of DQB1 aspartate 57 negative and DQA1 arginine 52 positive alleles in control and diabetic groups. The DQB1 allelic distribution was similar in both control groups; alleles negative for aspartate at position 57 were 48% in French and 50% in Algerian. In both diabetic groups, the prevalence of alleles negative for aspartate at position 57 was significantly higher: 91% (French) and 81% (Algerian) (p less than 0.001). A majority of patients were homozygote for DQB1 Asp 57 negativity: 83% (French) and 63% (Algerian). The highest relative risk was associated with HLA-DQB1 0201/0302 heterozygosity. The HLA-DQA1 allelic distribution was also similar in French and Algerian controls. Alleles positive for arginine (ARG+) at position 52 were 50% (French) and 57% (Algerian) of controls. In both diabetic groups the prevalence of alleles positive for arginine at position 52 was significantly higher: 78% (French) and 84% (Algerian).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)