Development, validation, and standardization of polymerase chain reaction-based detection of E. coli O157

A diagnostic polymerase chain reaction assay was developed for the detection of E. coli O157 as the first part of a multicenter validation and standardization project. The assay is based on amplification of sequences of the rfbE O157 gene and includes an internal amplification control. The selectivity of the assay was evaluated against 155 strains, including 32 E. coli O157, 38 E. coli non-O157, and 85 non-E. coli. It was shown to be highly inclusive (100%) and exclusive (100%). The assay has a 100% detection probability of approximately 2 x 10(3) cells per reaction.