An immunodiagnostic method for the detection of Shiga-like toxigenic Escherichia coli in faeces

Escherichia coli O157 is one of the most common serotypes of shiga-like toxin producing E coli , and has been associated with serious disease and several high profile outbreaks.1 The Quix™ Rapid E coli O157 Strip Test (Universal HealthWatch Inc, Columbia, North Carolina, USA) is an immunochromatographic test that detects the O157 antigen using a colloidal gold labelled antibody. We chose to evaluate the Quix™ Strip Test for the detection of E coli O157 in faecal specimens of patients with bloody diarrhoea or clinical symptoms typically associated with E coli O157 …