Hi-PCR® E.coli O157:H7 Food Detection Kit

The kit is developed for simple and rapid detection of E.coli 0157:H7 from variety of food samples after enrichment according to AOAC guidelines followed by a multiplex PCR assay designed for the specific detection of the targeted organisms. E.coli O157:H7 is a rod-shaped, gram-negative, aerobic and non-fermentative bacterium that causes hemolytic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. E. coli O157:H7 is known by its somatic (cell wall) antigen (O157) and its flagella antigen (H7). E. coli O157:H7 is also known to produce Shiga-like toxins which cause severe symptoms. The main mode of infection is through contaminated food, untreated water and unpasteurized milk. This organism is characterized by Endotoxin shock as one of the lethal manifestation of infection. While majority of the patients recover from infection around 15% of the patients develop hemolytic uremic syndrome which could be fatal.