TABLE 1.

Discriminatory power and cluster identification in a test panel (77% of all genotyped isolates from Brussels during a 16-month period; n = 258)^a

Technique and no. of loci	No. of different profiles	No. of isolates with unique profiles	No. of clusters	No. of isolates in cluster	Strain-clustering rate (%)
Spoligotyping	113	76	37	182	56.2
IS6110-RFLP	195	167	28	91	24.4
Low copy no. (≤5 IS6110 bands [n = 28])	12	7	5	21	57.1
High copy no. (<5 IS6110 bands [n = 230])	183	160	23	70	20.4
IS6110-RFLP and spoligotyping	206	180	26	78	20.2
15 MIRU-VNTR loci	207	180	27	78	19.8
Spoligotyping and 15 MIRU-VNTR loci	207	180	27	78	19.8
IS6110-RFLP and 15 MIRU-VNTR loci	213	189	24	69	17.4
IS6110-RFLP, spoligotyping, and 15 MIRU-VNTR loci	213	189	24	69	17.4

^aThe techniques referred to as 15 and 24 MIRU-VNTR loci correspond to the optimized formats defined in reference 37.