Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting the presence or absence of a target cell in a sample, said method comprising (a) binding cells in said sample to a particulate and mixable solid support; (b) eluting the cells from the solid support without the use of competitor molecules to disrupt the interaction between the cell and the solid support; (c) after lysis of said cells, detecting the presence or absence of nucleic acid characteristic of said target cell, wherein said solid support does not have antibodies or antibody fragments immobilised thereon. Kits for carrying out the method of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new primers for the detection of any of three important bacterial indicator groups used in food microbiology and two virulence factors, which are associated with the aetiology of several types of watery and bloody human diarrhoea. It also provides a method for subtyping the two virulence factors. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to use of the primers, as well as use of the primers in a method which enables this detection, as well as the detection of new emerging pathogenic bacteria.