Rapid and Simple Detection of Escherichia coli by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay in Urine Specimens

To improve urinary tract infection detection, we evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of Loop-mediated isothermal Amplification Method (LAMP) for detection of the Eschericia coli (E. coli) in urine samples, for the first time. Primers were designed to target the malB gene of Escherichia coli. LAMP assay was performed on urine specimens collected from patients with urinary tract infection symptoms. As expected, LAMP was more specific and sensitive than direct microscopic tests. LAMP assay showed the best detection limit of DNA copies with 1.02 copies. LAMP method offers several advantages in terms of sensitivity, rapidness and simplicity for detection of E. coli infection in urine samples. The LAMP method would be highly suitable for the early detection of the UTIs and also comfort quick diagnosis of UTI in clinical laboratories with limited equipment.