E. coli O157:H7 Confirmation
| Data | Value |
|---|---|
| Method | Serologic agglutination and biochemical identification |
| CPT Code | |
| Test Scope | Identification of E. coli O157:H7 |
| Preferred Specimen | Four isolated colonies of sorbitol negative E. coli subcultured to a sorbitol-MacConkey agar plate. |
| Other Acceptable Specimens | A sorbitol-MacConkey plate with sorbitol negative colonies resembling E. coli. |
| Specimen Container | A sealed, inoculated sorbitol-MacConkey plate |
| Specimen Identification | Label plate with patient’s first name, last name and DOB. Label plate with date and time of sub-culture |
| Shipping Requirements | Store and ship at room temperature. Transport to lab as soon as possible preferably within 24 hours of sub-culture |
| Sample Rejection Criteria |
|
| Note | PFGE analysis is performed on all E. coli O157 isolates and reported to the county epidemiologist. |
| Turn-around-time | 24-48 hours |