We describe here a method for determining confidence intervals for a commonly used index of diversity. This approach facilitates the comparison of the genetic population structure of microorganisms isolated from different environments and improves the objective assessment of the discriminatory power of typing techniques.
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Nottingham, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom. Hajo.Grundmann@Nottingham.ac.uk