Anthrax Testing Service

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) have worked together to develop the Laboratory Response Network for the express purpose of dealing with bioterrorism and other terrorism threats.

Our laboratory at CBI, following the protocols developed by the CDC, APHL, and the Laboratory Response Network, offers testing services for suspect samples or environmental monitoring. All samples which test positive at CBI will be forwarded to the appropriate public health laboratories, appropriate government agencies or law enforcement laboratories for confirmation.

CBI utilizes the facilities and expertise it has developed over the past ten years to provide the critical analysis necessary to identify bacteria in suspect environmental samples. Through many years of contract government work, CBI has advanced the knowledge and understanding of detection in complex samples.

Powders

Lab testing of powders or other materials suspected of harboring the anthrax bacteria can be performed. Positive tests will be reported and the sample passed on to public safety laboratories or Federal government laboratories for confirmatory analysis.

Tests include:

• Culture of suspected materials.
• Microscopic examination of a sample of a suspect material, Gram Stain.
• Evaluation of the growth properties in broth
• PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test that amplifies DNA at three sites.
• Microbiological analysis, Hemolysis, AP ID testing, and morphology analysis.
• Other specialized tests to confirm the identification of the bacteria.

Environment (where exposure may have occurred)

During the course of an investigation important information may be obtained from sampling the environment where the exposure may have occurred. Testing of the environment is useful for detecting trace amounts of anthrax spores. Specimens obtained may include:

• Swabs on contamination of various surfaces
• Samples of the air (off filters)
• Paper samples
• Soil samples
• Cloth

These samples are processed in the laboratory to promote growth of any spores, if present. If suspicious bacteria grow, additional testing may be performed.

Monitoring

CBI experts can work with you to devise continual monitoring of your facility or place of business for detection of anthrax or other agents. CBI's monitoring program can include post-decontamination surface testing and viability testing of decontaminated materials.

Background information on Bioterrorism and Anthrax

1. CDC. Ongoing investigation of anthrax---Florida, October 2001. MMWR 2001;50:877
2. CDC. Human Anthrax Associated With an Epizootic Among Livestock---North Dakota, 2000. MMWR 2001;50:677--80.
3. NATURE: Overview of scientific literature on Anthrax
   http://www.nature.com/nature/anthrax
4. Thomas Inglesby, et. al. JAMA, Vol. 281, No.18, May 1999. Anthrax as a Biological Weapon.
5. CDC guidelines for sample collection and monitoring.

To order, please use our Anthrax Testing Order Form.

Adobe Acrobat Reader required. Get it here.