Laboratories Detecting <em>E. coli</em> at Improved Rates

Traverse City, Mich.–The ability of clinical laboratories to identify E. coli O157:H7 in proficiency testing samples improved substantially within a five year span. A 2003 study found that 30% of laboratory participants failed to detect the E. coli strain even though they were explicitly instructed to test for the organism. When laboratoies were reexamined in 2008 by the American Proficiency Institute (API) reexamined laboratories in 2008, 85.3% were able to detect the strain.

“These results are highly encouraging,” said Daniel Edson, API President and chief study author.  “We are seeing more laboratories following appropriate testing recommendations and a much better detection rate is occurring. But, there are still improvements to be made.”  Edson suggested that laboratories follow screening recommendations from CDC and urged accreditation agencies to include these guidelines in their laboratory inspection checklists.

The study, “Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a Proficiency Testing Program: An Update of Laboratory Performance,” was published this month in Laboratory Medicine.  It provides results of an updated review of laboratory performance in detecting E. coli O157:H7 in a proficiency testing sample.