Evaluation of a reversed passive latex agglutination test for the detection of Verocytotoxin (VT) expressed by strains of VT-producing Escherichia coli.
OBJECTIVE
To compare an experimental Reversed-Passive Latex Agglutination (RPLA) with Vero cells for the detection of Verocytotoxin expressed by VT-producing strains of Escherichia coli (VTEC).


RESULTS
The RPLA was used alongside a Vero cell tissue culture assay for the detection of VT in bacterial culture supernatant fluids and patients' faecal extracts.


CONCLUSIONS
The RPLA was comparable with the Vero cell assay, although slightly less sensitive.


CONCLUSIONS
The RPLA test proved to be a simple, rapid and convenient method of detecting VT in bacterial culture supernatant fluids and in the faeces of patients infected with VTEC.
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Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Division of Gastrointestinal Infections, Central Public Health Laboratory, London, UK. hchart@phls.co.uk
Willshaw
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GA
Cheasty
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D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014709:Vero Cells / Q000382:microbiology*
D003470:Culture Media; D022603:Shiga Toxins