Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with the DNA probe for human chromosome 4 was used to analyse in vitro radiation induced chromosome rearrangement in peripheral lymphocyte. Translocations, dicentrics, acentrics and color junctions involving the painted chromosome were scored according to the Protocol for Aberration Identification and Nomenclature Terminology (PAINT) system. The frequency of chromosome rearrangements including reciprocal translocation, dicentric, acentric fragment and color junction increased with radiation dose. The frequency of dicentric chromosome reduced by the fixation time following irradiation, whereas that of translocation was relatively persistent. The applicability of FISH for scoring stable translocation for biological dosimetry was demonstrated.