OBJECTIVETo establish a simplified method of multiplex PCR based on chimeric primers for STR loci.

METHODSA set of chimeric primers and universal primers were designed to carry out a multiplex PCR for amplifying four short tandem repeats(STR) loci. Then the amplified STR loci were detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the gels were sliverstained.

RESULTSA quadriplex STR system was developed on the basis of both chimeric and universal primers.

CONCLUSIONThe STR multiplex PCR based on both chimeric and universal primers hss been achieved readily and reproducibly by simple adjustment of the individual primer concentrations. The use of chimeric primers provides a method for primer design that eliminates the multiple optimization steps involved in developing the multiplex PCR.