Objective To study the rapid identification of mycobacterium species by PCR-reverse hybridization assay using oligonucleotide probes based on 16s-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Methods 36 standard strains from 26 mycobacterial species and 24 clinical isolates of mycobacteria were detected by PCR-reverse hybridization assay. Results 340bp-450bp DNA fragments were amplified from all mycobacterial strains tested. Among 21 oligonucleotide probes, MYC, MTC, MKA, MMAR, MSI, MSC, MGO, MSZ, M...