New method of serotyping Escherichia coli: implementation and verification

Abstract

This paper describes the implementation and verification of a new method of serotyping Escherichia coli based on a mathematical analysis of the results of agglutination reactions between standard O antigens of E. coli and rabbit antisera raised against them. Details of the new method, which uses on average one-fifth of the serum used for the old method and is now in routine use in New Zealand, are given.