Despite the extensive search for disease causing mutations in exons 28-36 of the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene, the NF1 specific mutations so far documented account for only a small proportion of all NF1 cases. In this study, we have used 8 sets of new primers to amplify sequences throughout the NF1 gene, including 10 different exons and their flanking intron sequences. The derived PCR products from 150 independent NF1 patients and 50 normal controls were examined by heteroduplex analysis on Hydrolink gels. Three novel mutations were identified and characterised. Two of these mutations include the same 3-bp deletion (AAT) within exon 17 with a silent codon change from ACA (threonine) to ACG (threonine) and a loss of the codon ATG (methionine). The third mutation is a 10-bp deletion (TTCTCTTGGA) within exon 44 resulting in the formation of an inappropriate stop codon. These results should be useful for the further elucidation of the molecular basis of NF1.