Lab M launches new E. coli O104 detection product

Lab M has announced the launch of a new immunomagnetic separation (IMS) product for use in the isolation of E. coli O104 strains.

Captivate O104 is used in the detection of this dangerous infection type in food, animal feed and environmental samples, meeting the need for new means of rapidly testing fresh sprouted seeds for the presence of E. coli.

A key challenge associated with this strain is its biochemical ambiguity, making it difficult to isolate from other Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains using conventional culture methods.

Though this type of infection is comparatively rare among humans, it was nevertheless responsible for a serious outbreak of illness in Europe in 2011.

The company said: "IMS is the only procedure that makes specific isolation of E. coli O104 possible in a way that results in a viable microbiological culture."

Earlier this month, Lab M attended the Medica 2012 industry conference in Dusseldorf, where it provided attendees with a demonstration of its new capabilities following its recent move to new headquarters in Greater Manchester in June 2012.