IDG has introduced Captivate O157, an alternative system for the isolation
of E.coli O157. The system comprises specific antibody-coated magnetic beads
for the isolation of E.coli O157 from food, animal feed, beverages,
pharmaceutical or environmental samples.
E.coli O157:H7 is a potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal pathogen.
The majority of infections are foodborne and associated with ground beef,
hamburgers and raw milk. Conventional isolation methods can give rise to
false negative results due to the problem of competing flora obscuring
E.coli O157 colonies.
The recommended protocol employs enrichment in Modified Tryptone Soy Broth
(MTSB) followed by separation with Captivate, prior to sub-culture of the
O157-bead complex on Sorbitol MacConkey Agar supplemented with cefixime and
potassium tellurite (CT-SMAC). E.coli O157 colonies are identified and
confirmed with biochemical and serological tests.
Immunomagnetic separation offers a way of rapidly extracting E.coli O157
from non-target bacteria, resulting in improved rates of isolation. Other
benefits include a 10-fold concentration of E.coli O157 and easy to
visualise separation of beads. The Captivate separation is highly
strain-specific and results in less than 1% carry over of non-O157 E.coli
from mixed cultures.
Captivate is available in packs of both 50 and 250 tests.
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Editor: For more information, please contact: Phil Smith, IDG (UK) Ltd,
Topley House, 52 Wash Lane, Bury, Lancs, BL9 6AU
Phone: +44 (0) 161 797 5729, Fax: +44 (0) 161 762 9322
Email: pasmith at idgplc.com
