PROLEX E. coli O157 Latex Antigen Test (100 Tests)

The Prolex™ E. coli O157 Latex Test Reagent Kit is an agglutination test kit for the presumptive identification of Escherichia coli serogroup O157.

The blue polystyrene latex particles used in the kit are coated with an antibody against Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7, a Shiga toxin-producing pathogen. This serotype has been described as an etiological agent in sporadic and outbreak cases of hemorrhagic colitis. It is also associated with hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Certain other E. coli serotypes besides O157:H7 also produce Shiga toxin. However, the diarrhea caused by these other serotypes is usually not bloody. Furthermore, E. coli serotype O157:H7 does not ferment sorbitol, whereas most other serotypes do. Therefore, if Sorbitol MacConkey agar is used as the primary screening, colonies of E. coli serotype O157:H7 will appear colorless (non-sorbitol-fermenting colonies [NSFC]), while colonies of the other serotypes will appear characteristically pink (sorbitol-fermenting colonies [SFC]).