The polymorphic DNA probe VK5B (D16S94) was mapped by genetic linkage in families from the Centre d'Etude de Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH) as being in the same interval as the autosomal dominant adult polycystic kidney disease locus (PKD1). The maximum likelihood estimate of the genetic location of VK5B using multipoint linkage analysis was 9.6 cM proximal to 3'HVR (D16S85) and 5.4 cM distal to CRI-0327 (D16S63), in males. The VK5B probe may be useful in PKD1 families for prenatal and presymptomatic diagnosis of the disease. Additional typing of PKD1 families is required to determine whether the location of VK5B is distal or proximal to (PKD1).