During the acute phase of infection, large numbers of enterotoxigenic cells are excreted in feces. These strains are differentiated from nontoxigenic E. coli present in the bowel by a variety of in vitro immunochemical, tissue culture, or gene probe tests designed to detect either the toxins or genes that encode for these toxins. The diagnosis can be completed in about 3 days. (Source: FDA Bad Bug Book)
In the laboratory, infection with ETEC is diagnosed when the bacteria are cultured from samples of stool. The techniques necessary to identify ETEC are not widely available, and physicians may make the diagnosis based on a patient's history and symptoms. If ETEC is suspected, the microbiology laboratory evaluating a patient's stool specimen should be alerted. (Source: excerpt from Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC): DBMD)
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