Conditions that resulted in unstable expression and heat instability of a cell surface epitope associated with a 66-kDa antigen in Listeria monocytogenes serotypes were identified with the probe monoclonal antibody (MAb) EM-7G1 in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This epitope appeared to be absent in three serotypes (serotypes 3b, 4a, and 4c), which did not react with MAb EM-7G1 irrespective of the enrichment broth tested. The remaining 10 serotypes were detected by MAb EM-7G1 only when cells were grown in nonselective brain heart infusion broth (BHI) or selective Listeria enrichment broth (LEB). When cells were grown in Listeria repair broth (LRB), only 6 of the 13 serotypes were detected by MAb EM-7G1, and recognition of serogroup 4 was completely lost. None of the 13 serotypes was detected by MAb EM-7G1 when cells were grown in two other commonly used Listeria-selective media, UVM1 broth and Fraser broth (FRB), indicating that possible loss of epitope expression occurred under these conditions. MAb EM-7G1 maintained species specificity without cross-reacting with live or heat-killed cells of six other Listeria spp. (Listeria ivanovii, Listeria innocua, Listeria seeligeri, Listeria welshimeri, Listeria grayi, and Listeria murrayi) irrespective of the enrichment conditions tested. Due to heat instability of the cell surface epitope when it was exposed to 80 or 100 degrees C for 20 min, MAb EM-7G1 is suitable for detection of live cells of L. monocytogenes in BHI or LEB but not in LRB, UVM1, or FRB enrichment medium.