Comparative validation study to demonstrate the equivalence of a minor modification to AOAC methods 996.09, Vip for EHEC and 996.10, assurance Eia EHEC with the reference culture method for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in beef

The Visual Immunoprecipitate Assay (VIP) method for the detection of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (VIP for EHEC) and Assurance Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) method for the detection of EHEC (EHEC EIA) are AOAC INTERNATIONAL Official Methods 996.09 and 996.10, respectively. A minor modification to the enrichment medium used in both methods has been developed. This modification, the BioControl modified EHEC medium (BioControl mEHEC) provides a more cost-effective procedure with performance equivalent to that of the cultural method for detection of E. coli O157:H7 in beef.