Laboratory Testing for E. coli | E. coli infection

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cdc-page-offset noindex"> <time class="cdc-page-title-bar__item cdc-page-title-bar__item--date" datetime="2024-02-27 05:00:00"> February 27, 2024 </time> </section> <div class="cdc-page-title cdc-page-offset syndicate"> <h1>Laboratory Testing for <em>E. coli</em></h1> </div> <div id="content" class="cdc-page-content cdc-page-offset syndicate container"> <div class="cdc-dfe-body "> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__top "> <div class="dfe-section dfe-section--page-summary summary-list" data-section="cdc_lab_testing_procedures_page_summary"> <div class="dfe-section__header"> <h2>Purpose</h2> </div> <div class="dfe-section__content"> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Get guidance for detecting Shiga toxin-producing <em>E. coli </em>(STEC).<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Learn about testing for other kinds of diarrheagenic <em>E. coli</em>.<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">Submit a STEC specimen to CDC for further characterization.<em></em><ul> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="dfe-section__image" id="page-summary-image"> <figure class="dfe-image dfe-image__large"><div class="image-container calculated-ratio-16-9 aspect-ratio-16-9"><img src="/ecoli/media/images/2024/05/DFE-Ecoli-Lab-Testing-Laboratory-worker-analysis.jpg" alt="A lab worker in a white coat running tests in a laboratory."></div></figure> </div> <div id="nav-buttons"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__center "> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_lab_testing_procedures_over"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_lab_testing_procedures_over-overview" name="Overview" title="Overview"></a><h2>Overview</h2> <h3>Testing for STEC</h3> <p>Clinical and public health laboratories can use the following resources for detection and characterization of STEC infections:</p> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5812.pdf" class="" target="_blank">Recommendations for diagnosis of STEC infections by clinical laboratories<span aria-label=" pdf icon" role="img" class="sr-only"></span><span class="cdc-link-icon cdc-link-icon--pdf" aria-hidden="true"></span></a><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1"><a href="https://www.aphl.org/AboutAPHL/publications/Documents/FS_2012April_Guidance-for-PHLs-Isolation-and-Characterization-of-Shiga-Toxin-Producing-Escherichia-coli-STEC-from-Clinical.pdf" class="tp-link-policy" target="_blank" data-domain-ext="org">Guidance for public health laboratories: Isolation and characterization of STEC<em> </em>from clinical specimens<span aria-label=" pdf icon" role="img" class="sr-only"></span><span class="cdc-link-icon cdc-link-icon--pdf" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="visually-hidden sr-only" aria-label=" external icon" role="img"></span><span class="cdc-icon-external cdc-link-icon" aria-hidden="true" alt="external icon"></span></a><ul> </ul> </li> </ul> <h3>Testing for other <em>E. coli</em></h3> <p>Most U.S. clinical laboratories do not use tests that can detect <a href="/ecoli/about/kinds-of-ecoli.html" class="">diarrheagenic <em>E. coli</em></a><em></em> other than STEC, although some have nucleic acid amplification tests available that can detect enterotoxigenic <em>E. coli</em> (ETEC) and other pathotypes.</p> <p>Public health laboratories can perform additional testing for non-STEC pathotypes; however, these labs usually do so only when investigating an outbreak of diarrheal illness of unknown origin. </p> <p>In this situation, specimens may be submitted via state health departments to CDC for testing. </p> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_lab_testing_procedures_sending_specimens"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_lab_testing_procedures_sending_specimens-submitting-specimens" name="Submitting%20specimens" title="Submitting specimens"></a><h2>Submitting specimens</h2> <p>CDC offers confirmatory identification, serology, serotyping, subtyping, and virulence profiling for STEC. </p> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/laboratory/specimen-submission/who-may-submit-specimens.html" class="">Learn who may submit a specimen</a><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/laboratory/specimen-submission/detail.html?CDCTestCode=CDC-10105">Select a test order</a><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/laboratory/specimen-submission/form.html" class="ce-selection">Download a submission form</a><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/laboratory/specimen-submission/shipping-packing.html">Find packing and shipping instructions</a><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/laboratory/specimen-submission/training.html">Learn how to avoid time-consuming errors with our training materials</a><ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/laboratory/specimen-submission/help-faqs.html" class="ce-selection">Get answers to commonly asked questions</a><ul> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Note:</strong> CDC accepts specimens for analysis only from state public health laboratories and other federal agencies. 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