Abstract: Tianjin Hospital,Tianjin 300211,China Abstract Objective: The fingerprintings library of 50 standard strains of mycobacteria was constructed by mycolic acid analysis using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) .The characteristic study on the fingerprintings was carried out. Methods: Mycolic acids were extracted ,derivatized and analyzed by the HPLC method after mycobacterium species were cultured ,saponified and acided. The mycolic acids fingerprintings library was set up. On the basis the HPLC patterns of relative retention time and relative peak height, the characteristic of the fingerprintings was analyzed and compared. Results: The mycolic acids fingerprintings library of 50 standard stains of mycobacteria was constructed by mycolic acid analysis using HPLC .These patterns may be divided into three groups,such as single-,double- and triple-clusters peak patterns,each groups comprising 10,23,and 17 species, respectively.50 strains were successfully typing by its characteristics. Of 92 isolates tested,89 were given species names in concordance with the known names. The concordance rate was 96.74%.Conclusions: All of patterns have characteristics. The established method can be used to identify above mycobacterium species rapidly and reliably.

Key words: Mycobacteria, Mycolic acids, Chromatography high performance liquid, Fingerprintings, characteristic