Evaluation of the Phadebact ETEC-LT test for the heat-labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli.

The Phadebact ETEC-LT is a rapid method of identifying enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), producing the heat-labile enterotoxin (LT). It uses staphylococcal coagglutination as a means of identifying the LT released from ETEC. In this investigation both known strains of ETEC from a variety of sources as well as strains from patients were tested. Good agreement was found between the Phadebact ETEC-LT test and established tests for LT. The test was found easy to use in the clinical laboratory environment, and revealed that LT producing ETEC may be more common causes of diarrhoea in Australia than had been anticipated.