Evaluation of an Inexpensive Field Test for Ruling Out the Presence of Biological Threat Agents in Suspicious Powders

摘要

First responders frequently are faced with suspicious white powders, which are suspected to be biological threats such as anthrax; therefore, a need exists for an inexpensive, effective tool for pre-screening suspicious powders. This study evaluated a five-step pre-screening kit which consisted of protein and pH test strips used to evaluate the presence of a biological agent. A blind study was conducted in which various protein and pH strips were used to analyze samples consisting of a virulent Versinia pestis (Y pestis) and anthrax spores, in powdered form, along with the Critical Reagents Program (CRP) suspicious powders panel. Each powder was tested separately and with the 14 CRP suspicious powders combined with V. pestis or spores. It was found that protein detection strips did not detect the presence of spores or V. pestis when mixed with certain powders. Even though primarily there was little matrix interference observed, there were several circumstances when there was a significant masking effect that precluded the accurate detection of the biological threat agent. Therefore, based on the outcome of these studies, the five-step pre-screening kit is currently not recommended to first responders for use in the differentiation of a true threat from a hoax.