Lab M launches new E. coli detection tool

Lab M has announced the launch of Captivate O121 for the detection of E. coli O121, a non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing version of E. coli (STEC) associated with foodborne infection.

The new product is able to address one of the key challenges associated with this form of the bacteria, namely that it is not biochemically unique and is therefore difficult to isolate using traditional culture methods.

It does so using a highly effective technique known as immunomagnetic separation, which has now been written into US Department of Agriculture methodology for the detection of this E. coli serogroup.

Although the most common serotypes of STEC in Europe and the US are E.coli O157 or O26, the incidence of other variants has seen an increase in recent times.

The company said: "Lab M's expertise in immunomagnetic separation dates back many years and Captivate is one of the company's best-selling product ranges around the world."

Last month, the firm hosted a meeting of the Eastern Region Association of Microbiologists at its headquarters in Heywood – the first such event to be held at the facility since Lab M moved in last summer.