How to Test for the Presence of E. Coli

E. coli, which is the abbreviated name for Escherichia coli, is a typically harmless bacterium that usually inhabits the digestive system of warm-blooded animals. Yet, certain E. coli strains, which are a slight variation of the bacterium, may be responsible for food poisoning or water contamination. E.coli may also be the culprit behind urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and other conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.



A combination of health history and various samples can help determine if E. coli is the cause of an illness. If tests confirm E. coli, a physician may prescribe antibiotics and other therapies.

Things You'll Need

• Health care provider's consult
• Stool or urine sample
• Water sample
• Laboratory test
• Catheter (in special cases under a health care provider's supervision)

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Instructions

Consult a Health care Provider

• 1

  Provide a travel and diet history to help rule out different illnesses.

  If vomiting, diarrhea, gas, nausea, severe abdominal pain, fever, or bloody diarrhea occur for more than three days without relief, adults should consult a health care provider immediately. A burning sensation when urinating, dribbling urine, increased frequency of urination or an urgency to urinate may signal a urinary tract infection that also requires medical attention. Take children and infants to a health care provider within 24 to 48 hours after onset of symptoms.

  A thorough health history, including recent travels and a diet history of everything eaten within the last 72 to 48 hours, can help the health care provider rule out different illnesses.

• 2

  Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after providing a stool sample.

  Your health care provider may want to test your stool for the presence of E. coli. While you are on the toilet, defecate into a container provided by the health care provider. After providing the stool sample, wash your hands thoroughly for at least 30 seconds after obtaining the sample. A nurse will send the sample to the laboratory to exam for E. coli and other possible causes of illness.

  If a doctor calls for additional testing , a nurse or phlebotomist may take a blood sample.

• 3

  A urine sample may also be obtained if a urinary tract infection is suspected. Follow the nurse's instructions about the clean technique used to collect a specimen when urinating into a container.

  In certain cases, a catheter may need to be inserted into the vagina or penis by a nurse to obtain a urine sample.

• 4

  Water can be checked for E. coli also.

  Evaluate drinking water to test for E. coli. Laboratories provide containers to collect water samples. Follow the specific directions, as some may have different guidelines. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends requesting that a trained technician collect the water sample to help increase the reliability of the test results.