The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify viral cDNAs from selected regions of dengue genomic RNA by using appropriate 'consensus' primers. DNA amplicons containing the structural genes from all 4 dengue serotypes were prepared and directly sequenced using dengue-virus-specific primers. This method can characterize reliably flavivirus field isolates at the molecular level without extensive virus propagation and molecular cloning, and will be a valuable tool for molecular epidemiological studies.