Comparison between Whatman FTA Elute Cards and Conventional Swab for the Detection of Pathogenic Enteric Bacteria Using an RT-qPCR Assay

Figure 2

CT values of Escherichia coli O157:H7 genes in samples on Whatman FTA elute cards are higher than those on swabs. (a) Expression level of the stx1 gene in a serially diluted laboratory strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 samples on Whatman FTA cards detected by RT-qPCR (n = 6, , , and ). (b) Expression level of the stx1 gene in a serially diluted laboratory strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 samples on swabs detected by RT-qPCR (n = 6, and ). (c) Expression level of the stx2 gene in a serially diluted laboratory strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 samples on Whatman FTA cards detected by RT-qPCR (n = 6, , , and ). (d) Expression level of the stx2 gene in a serially diluted laboratory strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 samples on swabs detected by RT-qPCR (n = 6, , , and ). RT-qPCR: reverse transcription-quantitative PCR; FTA: Flinders Technology Associates.

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