Technical Bulletin 3: Use Of Multiple Test Strip Types - Guardian R1000 Operation Manual

To: All Guardian BioThreat Alert™ Customers
Subject: Use of Multiple Test Strip Types
Date: 28 May 2002
It has come to our attention that many users of the BioThreat Alert™ System have been
deviating from our training protocols and only running an Anthrax BioThreat Alert™ test
strip when testing for unknown powders. There are serious risks associated with such a
practice.
It is a mistake to assume that anthrax is the only biological threat of concern. As
•
of this date, credible threats involving ricin, botulinum toxin and plague have
been documented in the United States.
• Federal authorities and private-sector experts also consider staphylocococal
enterotoxin B (SEB) and tularemia as real, present bioterrorist threats.
Failure to run multiple test strips can potentially result in missing a REAL threat.
•
BioThreat Alert™ Test Strips are available to test for all of these agents.
.
Recommendations
1. It is critical that all relevant test strips be run on each unknown.
2. For dry samples or powders, we recommend that anthrax and the three toxin
tests (ricin, botulinum toxin and SEB) be run, at a minimum.
3. Remember that a multiple test SOP also serves as a double-check against
chemical interferrants. Positive test results found on more than one type of test
strip can be a strong indicator that the sample is a chemical interferrant and not a
real biological threat.
If you have any questions regarding this bulletin, please contact Alexeter
Alexeter
Technical Bulletin #3
Technologies at 877-591-5571.
Alexeter Technologies, LLC
830 Seton Court, #6, Wheeling, IL 60090
phone: (847) 419-1507 fax: (847) 419-1648
www.alexeter.com
Technologies, LLC
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