[Identification and genotyping of Norwalk virus by stringent microplate hybridization of PCR products]

There are many genotypes of Norwalk virus(NV), and the microplate hybridization method for identification and genotyping of NV requires preparation of many probes. However, the method is simple and the detection sensitivity is high at 10 ng/ml DNA, and many samples can be simultaneously examined in an identification test and genotyping of NV. Increasing the hybridization temperature increases precision and the homology rate between a probe and DNA fragment can be estimated. Mixed genotypes of NV are often detected in a same sample of NV-infected patients and oysters. In such cases, genotypes cannot be determined by direct sequencing. However, this method is applicable to genotyping of cases infected with mixed genotypes. Genotypes can be determined without sequencing by preparing many probes.