SIMPLIFICATION OF A LOCUS-SPECIFIC DNA TYPING METHOD (VIR TYPING) FORSTREPTOCOCCUS-PYOGENES

We describe a simplification of a highly discriminatory molecular typi ng method, called Vir typing, for Streptococcus pyogenes (D. Gardiner, J. Hartas, B. Currie, J. D. Mathews, D. J. Kemp, and K. S. Sriprakash , PCR Methods Appl. 4:288-293, 1995). The procedure can be completed w ithin a day, is reproducible, and can be applied directly to colonies growing on primary culture plates, allowing rapid establishment of str ain identity in an outbreak.