Comparison of ribotype patterns obtained by manual ribotyping with DNA restricted in plugs and automated ribotyping with the RPunit. (a) Variation among patterns within each method. Lanes 1 to 3 were generated by manual ribotyping, lanes 4 to 6 were produced with the RP unit. Lanes 1 and 4, strain 99-2048, PS 3, RP 11; lanes 2 and 5, strain 99-3761, PS 14, RP 17; lanes 3 and 6, strain 99-2472, PS 8, RP 10. Approximate DNA fragment sizes (in kilobases) are shown at the left of each set of three lanes. (b) Comparison of manual and automated ribotype patterns for each strain. The strains in each lane were the same as those in panel a. Lanes 1, 3, and 5 were generated by manual ribotyping, while lanes 2, 4, and 6 were generated by automated ribotyping. Approximate DNA fragment sizes (in kilobases) are shown for each lane.