| abstract |
A new multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and a multiplex PCR kit and oligonucleotides with which Mycobacteriay species can specifically and rapidly be identified based on the multiplex PCR method are provided. For the multiplex PCR method, at least two target genes are simultaneously amplified in a single tube through a single reaction using at least one oligonucleotide having a common sequence for the at least two target genes to be amplified, as a fixed primer(s), and at least two oligonucleotides each having gene-specific sequences as specific primers. The multiplex PCR kit uses an oligonucleotide primer having a conserved sequence of Mycobacteria as a fixed primer, and at least two oligonucleotide primers, which are specific to Mycobacteria species, as specific primers. Using this multiplex PCR kit, at least two Mycobacteria species can be identified through a single PCR. Thus, the multiplex PCR kit can be effectively applied in diagnosing M. tuberculosis and detecting non-tuberculosis Mycobacteria at low costs. |