Sau-PCR is a novel amplification technique for tracing the genetic fingerprint of microorganisms.Based on the digestion of genomic DNA with restriction endonuclease Sau3AI and subsequent amplification with primers whose core sequence is based on the Sau3AI recognition site,the reproducibility of the assay was as high as amplified fragment length polymorphism(AFLP)and is as quick and easy as random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD).Nowadays,Sau-PCR has been gradually used to determine the source of food pathogens and monitor the epidemiology of nosocomial infection.The principle,technical characteristics and the application of Sau-PCR were introduced in this paper.