Volume 8, Number 10—October 2002
THEME ISSUE
Bioterrorism-related Anthrax
Bioterrorism-related Anthrax
Surface Sampling Methods for Bacillus anthracis Spore Contamination
Wayne T. Sanderson*
, Misty J. Hein*, Lauralynn Taylor*, Brian D. Curwin*, Gregory M. Kinnes*, Teresa A. Seitz*, Tanja Popovic*, Harvey T. Holmes*, Molly E. Kellum*, Sigrid K. McAllister*, David N. Whaley*, Edward A. Tupin†, Timothy Walker†, Jennifer A. Freed†, Dorothy S. Small‡, Brian Klusaritz‡, and John H. Bridges§
, Misty J. Hein*, Lauralynn Taylor*, Brian D. Curwin*, Gregory M. Kinnes*, Teresa A. Seitz*, Tanja Popovic*, Harvey T. Holmes*, Molly E. Kellum*, Sigrid K. McAllister*, David N. Whaley*, Edward A. Tupin†, Timothy Walker†, Jennifer A. Freed†, Dorothy S. Small‡, Brian Klusaritz‡, and John H. Bridges§Table 1
Sample summary statistics for Bacillus anthracis culture analysis, Brentwood Mail Processing and Distribution Center, December 17–19, 2001
| Method | No. samples tested | B. anthracis detected (%) | Rangeb (CFU/cm2) | Medianb (CFU/cm2) | Levela |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative | Low | Medium | High | |||||
| Dry swab | 28 | 4 (14) | 0.45–232.5 | 60.9 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Wet swab | 67 | 36 (54) | 0.78–232.5 | 15.5 | 31 | 4 | 14 | 18 |
| HEPAvacuum | 64 | 51 (80) | 0.3–81,000 | 23.1 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 28 |
| Wipe | 67 | 58 (87) | 0.02–232.5c | 5.4 | 9 | 9 | 36 | 13 |
aLevel of B. anthracis (CFU/cm2): negative = 0, low = 0.1–1.6, medium=1.7–15.5, and high=>15.5.
bPositive samples only.
c232.5 CFU/cm2 is the maximum value considered too numerous to count for a concentration; 300 CFU is the maximum value considered too numerous to count for a culture.
