[The rapid identification of E. coli by the detection of 3 enzymes]

232 isolates of gram-negative, oxidase-negative bacteria, isolated from various samples of different animal species, were tested with help of RAPIDEC coli for the production of beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase and indole. The test correctly identified 164 of 175 E. coli strains (sensitivity 93.7%) and correctly indicated that 57 of 57 isolates of the family Enterobacteriaceae (7 Citrobacter sp., 18 Enterobacter sp., 16 Klebsiella sp., 10 Proteus sp., 2 Providencia sp. and 4 Salmonella sp.) were not E. coli (specificity 100%).