(99m)Technetium labelled Escherichia coli

Samples of a culture of unlabeled Escherichia coli were incubated with diff erent concentrations of stannous chloride for various time periods. Tc-99m (26.0 MBq) was added to each preparation and the results showed a labelling yield of 98% for E, coil. Since the bacterial viability of Tc-99m-E. coil and E. coli did not show any statistical differences, these results demonst rate that labelling of E, coli with Tc-99m does not modify the bacterial vi ability, and the radiolabelled bacteria may be a good model to study bacter ial translocation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.