Evaluation of the microplate hybridization method for rapid identification of Legionella species.

Rapid genetic identification of 23 Legionella species was performed using microdilution plate hybridization. When an isolate appeared to be a strain of the Legionella species, its DNA was quickly extracted, labelled with photobiotin and distributed to microdilution wells where 23 different DNAs had previously been immobilized. After hybridization for 90 min at 45 degrees C, the microdilution well which emitted the maximum fluorescence was determined. The criterion for interpreting results of this genetic identification method is given.