polymerase chain reaction(P CR)procedure was develo ped for detection of UreaplasmaUrealyticum(UU).Seqences within a 16S ribosomal RNA gene from UU were used as extensionprimers for the PCR.A single DNA fragment of 397bp was amplified. The culture and the PCRwert carried out for detection of UU In 46 urogenital swabs obtained from patients in our hospital.The culture-positive specunens were 9 cases and they were confirmed by PCR. in 4 of 37 culture-negative specimens

397bp DNA fragment was detected and in the remaining specimens

PCR wasneg ative for UU.No amplified product was detected in Chlamydia trachomatis DNA

N. gonorrhoeae DNA or other bacterial DNAs.UU sequences were de tected by PCR in 15 of62(24.4%) clinical specimens.The method was roliable and simple

and it could be applied fordiagnosis of UU infection.