The sensitivity of multiplex PCR water testing kit was
determined by spiking sterilized water samples with
different number of E. coli, Y. enterocolitica and A. hydrophila
and further enriching in BWTK at 37°C for
12 h. Then multiplex PCR reaction was carried out. All
the samples spiked with one or more than one test bacterium
yielded three distinct bands with expected sizes
(Figure 5, lanes 2–8). A cultivation step prior to PCR
would circumvent the problem of detecting dead cells.