Eight probes were localized by fluorescent in situ hybridization to the region surrounding the Ewing's sarcoma breakpoint on chromosome 22. Three of these were initially ordered by pair-wise hybridization to metaphase chromosomes with differential detection of the probes. These and the remaining probes were then ordered by hybridizing two or three probes simultaneously to interphase nuclei. In the two probe experiments and some of the three probe experiments, the order was derived by comparing mean interphase distances between signals from the probes. In the three probe experiments, either two probes were detected with one fluorochrome and the third with another or all three probes were individually distinguished by detecting one probe with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), one with Texas Red, and one with both fluorochromes to give a mixed color. The order of the signals was then noted. Greater than 60 percent of configurations with a discrete order were shown or deduced to be correct. These approaches are assessed and we demonstrate a more obvious predominating order when all three probes are differentially detected. The order of the probes was deduced to be centromere: D22S271: D22S260: lambda S1: D22S262: cosK1831: Ewing's sarcoma breakpoint: cosLIF: D22S261: lambda S15: telomere.