Shiga toxin Producing E. coli
Data | Value |
---|---|
Method | Enzyme Immuno Assay (EIA) for detection of Shiga toxins I and II (verotoxins) |
CPT Code | n/a |
Test Scope | Isolation of Shiga toxin producing E. coli colonies (including E. coli O157) from positive MacConkey broths by sub-culture to MacConkey and sorbitol- MacConkey agar plates |
Preferred Specimen | A positive MacConkey broth that has tested positive for Shiga toxins by EIA, plus the original stool sample in Cary-Blair transport media. |
Specimen Container | A sealed MacConkey broth |
Specimen Identification | Label with patient’s first and last name, DOB and date/time of collection. |
Note | All positive isolates (including non-E. coli O157) are forwarded to the CDC for further characterization. PFGE analysis is performed on all Shiga toxin producing E. coli isolates and reported to the county epidemiologist. |
Shipping Requirements | Store and ship refrigerated. Transport to lab as soon as possible preferably within 24 hours. Stools and broths may be held for up to 7 days at 2-8° C before testing by EIA. |
Sample Rejection Criteria |
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Turn-around-time | 48-72 hours |