Genotyping male-specific RNA coliphages by hybridization with oligonucleotide probes

Genotyping of F(super +) RNA coliphages by nucleic acid hybridization with nonradioactive oliginucleotide probes is an effective and more economical method to group them. Genotyping of F(super +) RNA coliphages is practically viable for field samples. Serotyping of F(super +) RNA coliphages is necessary to distinguish between human fecal contamination and that of animal to determine the risk of infection from coliphage from different sources. Results obtained from genotyping compare very well with those from serotyping.