Evaluation of the Alere SHIGA TOXIN QUIK CHEK™ in comparison to multiplex Shiga toxin PCR.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) causes gastrointestinal outbreaks worldwide and due to its low infectious dose highly sensitive diagnostics are needed. In this study, the performance of the enzyme immunoassay SHIGA TOXIN QUIK CHEK (STQC) (Alere, TechLab) for the detection of Stx1 and Stx2 was evaluated directly from fecal samples, from culture on agar (SMAC(-CT)) and from broth enrichment (mTSB) in comparison to our in-house multiplex PCR. The STQC could not detect the Stx2f subtype, but detected all other subtypes with an analytical sensitivity varying between 10(8) and 10(4) CFU/ml.

Comparison of Auxacolor with API 20 C Aux in yeast identification.

OBJECTIVE: To compare Auxacolor with API 20 C Aux for identification of yeasts. METHODS: A total of 206 isolates belonging to 25 species was used in this study. Conventional yeast identification methods were used as a reference.