The public health alerts issued across Europe in the past weeks have highlighted the need for an efficient and rapid test for E. coli. As a result, detection at the molecular level has proven to be the crucial tool that offers the advantages of speed (less than 24 hours) and accuracy over traditional diagnostic methods. Real-time PCR techniques serve as the basis for all types of pathogen detecting, including the detection of enterotoxigenic or verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC/VTEC) and enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC).

In response to the bacterial outbreak that first shook Europe's fresh produce market and in recent days has raised suspicions about seed hygiene, Savia Biotech has designed an E. coli detection test that is capable of genetically characterising and identifying verocytotoxin producing E. coli through the PCR amplification of virulence genes.

The vtx1 and vtx2 genes, which encode the Shiga toxin, were selected for the initial screening stage as the vtx2 gene is normally associated with causing severe illness in humans. In addition, the eae gene which encodes the intimin or attaching and effacing characteristics of the bacteria was chosen as well as the vtx2f gene to account for variants of Shiga toxins produced by other potentially virulent E. coli strains.

Currently, this efficient and reliable E. coli testing is available starting from 29 euros through Savia Biotech for any agrifood professionals requiring analysis on fresh produce, seed, water and food-contact surfaces to ensure public safety and restore consumer confidence.