The Facts Concerning the Government's Restriction on Field Testing for Anthrax in Mail Rooms

Source: Alexeter Technologies.

08.12.02 |  We are pleased to see that the International Association of Fire Chiefs has updated its recommendation to all fire departments, rescinding its earlier warning to stop using field screening tests.  The IAFC is now recommending fire departments follow the CDC guidelines that were issued in October 2001.   Although we consider this to be a step forward, there is still considerable confusion surrounding the recent Memorandum issued by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.  Here are the facts:

#1 | Alexeter Technologies and Tetracore have full confidence in the Guardian Reader System™ and Tetracore’s BioThreat Alert™ test strips and continue to recommend the system’s use for the purposes for which it is intended. 

#2 | We have been assured that the Guardian Reader System™ and the BioThreat Alert™ test strips performed according to the published specifications and continue to press for the release of the government’s test results.

#3 | It’s also important to note that the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) memorandum applies only to “Federal Mail Managers and First Responders to Federal Mail Centers”. The GSA Policy Advisory issues guidelines only for “Federal Mail Centers in the Washington, DC Area”.

What's the Issue?

Upon review of these government documents, it is clear that the government concerns are for a very limited use of these field tests; for trace analysis of mail, such as swabbing mail pallets and other surfaces to detect the presence of small amounts of spores.  This is “routine environmental sampling”.

Sensitivity for HazMat

The majority of hazardous material teams deal visible samples when responding to a potential biological threat. With a visible sample, the amount of potential anthrax (or other biological agent) would be hundreds to thousands times the amount required for a positive in our test. These scenarios are the most frequently encountered by hazmat teams investigating reports of "suspicious powders". In summary, for visible samples, the issue of sensitivity is not relevant and as such, the Guardian System is an appropriate test system.

Test Specificity

As confirmed in verbal communications with government officials, the BioThreat Alert™ tests performed better than any other equipment evaluated. The officials confirmed that the BioThreat Alert™ Test for Anthrax has high specificity when tested against 26 different non-anthrax bacterial strains and is not affected by interferant substances tested, such as red clays. Upon request, we also can provide additional data from Tetracore, Inc., the maker of the BioThreat Alert™ Test, demonstrating the high specificity of the Anthrax Test. 

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