APPLICATION OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION TO THE IDENTIFICATION OFESCHERICHIA-COLI AND COLIFORMS IN WATER

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been applied to the identifica tion of Escherichia coli and coliforms after overnight growth using tw o sets of primers described previously. The primer set for E. coli, wh ich was derived from the uid A gene, correctly identified all E. coli strains tested. The sequence was also identified in five non-E. coli c oliforms. The coliform primer set correctly identified approximately 7 0% of the coliforms tested. We conclude that PCR can be used for the r apid identification of E. coli using the primers described here but th at further work is required accurately to define a new primer set for the coliform group.