Detection of heat-labile (LT) enterotoxin of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli by the radial immune hemolysis test: a modification for clinical use.

An adaptation for clinical purposes of a radial immune hemolysis test for the detection of the heat-labile (LT) enterotoxin of the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli is described. The results correlated well with those from Vero cell assay and the passive immune hemolysis test. Because the test is easy, relatively cheap, and as sensitive as other standard procedures, for LT detection, it is particularly suitable for less-equipped laboratories. Also, a large number of E. coli strains may be examined daily by this technique.