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Title: Laboratory Studies on Surface Sampling of Bacillus anthracis Contamination: Summary, Gaps, and Recommendations

Abstract

This report summarizes previous laboratory studies to characterize the performance of methods for collecting, storing/transporting, processing, and analyzing samples from surfaces contaminated by Bacillus anthracis or related surrogates. The focus is on plate culture and count estimates of surface contamination for swab, wipe, and vacuum samples of porous and nonporous surfaces. Summaries of the previous studies and their results were assessed to identify gaps in information needed as inputs to calculate key parameters critical to risk management in biothreat incidents. One key parameter is the number of samples needed to make characterization or clearance decisions with specified statistical confidence. Other key parameters include the ability to calculate, following contamination incidents, the (1) estimates of Bacillus anthracis contamination, as well as the bias and uncertainties in the estimates, and (2) confidence in characterization and clearance decisions for contaminated or decontaminated buildings. Gaps in knowledge and understanding identified during the summary of the studies are discussed and recommendations are given for future studies.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1031439
Report Number(s):
PNNL-20910
400904120; TRN: US201201%%707
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; BACILLUS; CLEARANCE; CONTAMINATION; MANAGEMENT; PERFORMANCE; PLATES; PROCESSING; RECOMMENDATIONS; SAMPLING; SURFACE CONTAMINATION; Bacillus anthracis; anthrax; surface sampling; recovery efficiency; false negative rate; limit of detection

Citation Formats

Piepel, Gregory F, Amidan, Brett G, and Hu, Rebecca. Laboratory Studies on Surface Sampling of Bacillus anthracis Contamination: Summary, Gaps, and Recommendations. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.2172/1031439.
Piepel, Gregory F, Amidan, Brett G, & Hu, Rebecca. Laboratory Studies on Surface Sampling of Bacillus anthracis Contamination: Summary, Gaps, and Recommendations. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1031439
Piepel, Gregory F, Amidan, Brett G, and Hu, Rebecca. 2011. "Laboratory Studies on Surface Sampling of Bacillus anthracis Contamination: Summary, Gaps, and Recommendations". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1031439. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1031439.
@article{osti_1031439,
title = {Laboratory Studies on Surface Sampling of Bacillus anthracis Contamination: Summary, Gaps, and Recommendations},
author = {Piepel, Gregory F and Amidan, Brett G and Hu, Rebecca},
abstractNote = {This report summarizes previous laboratory studies to characterize the performance of methods for collecting, storing/transporting, processing, and analyzing samples from surfaces contaminated by Bacillus anthracis or related surrogates. The focus is on plate culture and count estimates of surface contamination for swab, wipe, and vacuum samples of porous and nonporous surfaces. Summaries of the previous studies and their results were assessed to identify gaps in information needed as inputs to calculate key parameters critical to risk management in biothreat incidents. One key parameter is the number of samples needed to make characterization or clearance decisions with specified statistical confidence. Other key parameters include the ability to calculate, following contamination incidents, the (1) estimates of Bacillus anthracis contamination, as well as the bias and uncertainties in the estimates, and (2) confidence in characterization and clearance decisions for contaminated or decontaminated buildings. Gaps in knowledge and understanding identified during the summary of the studies are discussed and recommendations are given for future studies.},
doi = {10.2172/1031439},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1031439}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 EST 2011},
month = {Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 EST 2011}
}