Specific Identification of Escherichia coli O157 by an Immunostick Method Using Commercially Available Antibodies

A sandwich enzyme-immunoassay performed on plastic sticks was developed to specifically identify Escherichia coli O157. Colonies of test bacteria grown on tryptic soy agar were suspended in phosphate-buffered saline, heated in a 100°C water bath for 15 min, and incubated with the plastic sticks coated with a commercial preparation of anti- E. coli O157 antibodies at 37°C for 1.5 h. After incubation, the same antibodies labeled with peroxidase were used to produce the signal of antigen-antibody reaction. For 35 strains of E. coli O157 (among them 34 were E. coli O157:H7) tested, all produced strong reactions by the immunoassay. For 162 strains of E. coli with somatic antigens other than O157 and 38 strains of other genera tested, only one strain ( Salmonella bietri ) produced a false-positive reaction. The specificity and sensitivity of the immunostick assay were 100% (35/35) and 99.5% (199/200), respectively. The detection limit of the assay for E. coli O157:H7 (CCRC 15991) was about 10⁵ CFU/ml. The method, which can be carried out within 3 h, is useful for rapid identification of suspect E. coli O157 isolated on selective media.