Laboratory
ANTHRAX

Agent Overview:		The causative agent of Anthrax is the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, a 
			large, aerobic, gram positive and spore-forming rod.

Lab Specimen Submittal:	Authorization by Dr. Jane Getchell, DPHL Director, Christina Pleasanton, 
			DPHL Deputy Director, or Dr. Jack Liou, Bioterrorism Coordinator.

Type of Specimens: 	Environmental testing for culture and/or PCR:  Use two dry Dacron
Necessary for Testing:	swabs (not cotton) to collect specimen and put in two separate sterile 
			tubes (paper, powder, bone, hair, soil, wipes, water).

			Clinical specimens for culture and/or PCR:  pleural fluid, sputum, fresh 
			tissue, frozen tissue, or transtracheal aspirates.  Whole blood (EDTA) 
			purple-top tube or serum (red/black top tube) may also be submitted 
			for PCR.  If whole blood or serum is submitted, a blood culture bottle 
			must be drawn to confirm the PCR result.
       
			Grown organism for culture and/or PCR from sentinel laboratory:
			referred organism on agar or in liquid media for rule-out testing or 
			confirmation.

			Food Specimen-at least 10 grams of food in leak-proof container.

Packaging Instructions:	Environmental specimens must be double bagged and the outside of 
			the bag decontaminated (10% bleach).

			Grown organisms, food or clinical specimens must be in unbreakable 
			double containers and outside of container decontaminated (10% 
			bleach).

Receiving Specimens 	Authorized specimens are accepted at the back of the DPHL building by the
at DPHL: 		loading dock. Submitter must present identification and have proper forms completed. 

Handling of Specimens:	Chain of custody procedures must be followed for environmental samples or any samples,
		        specimens and materials that could be used as evidence in a legal proceeding.  
			Environmental samples are kept at room temperature and clinical specimens at 
			refrigerator temperature (in a cooler, but not frozen) until delivered to the laboratory.

Reporting Results:	Preliminary:  A preliminary positive or negative test result is issued 
	      		upon completion of PCR.  PCR may take 4 to 24 hrs. However, all PCR results 
			must be confirmed by culture.

			Negative:  Negative culture reports are issued after 48 hrs. 

			Positive:  Positive culture reports may be issued as early as 48 hrs after initial set up.

Contact Information:	Jane Getchell, DrPH, DPHL director: 302-223-1520 (24/7 coverage).
 
 
 
24/7 Emergency Contact Number:  1-888-295-5156
Revised: 05/2008  Doc. # 35-05-20/08/05/49