Jacobs Technology, Inc., 600 William Northern Blvd, Tullahoma, TN 37388, USA.
U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
J Microbiol Methods. 2019 Jan;156:5-8. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2018.11.013. Epub 2018 Nov 16.
Environmental sampling is a critical component of the post decontamination verification process following a bioterrorism event. The current work was performed to produce a less labor-intensive method for processing cellulose sponge-wipes used for sampling areas potentially contaminated with low concentrations (i.e., post-decontamination) of Bacillus anthracis spores. An alternative fast-analysis processing method was compared to the processing protocol validated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the Laboratory Response Network (LRN). Glazed tile coupons (1102 cm) were inoculated with 50, 500, or 5000 spores of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk), then sampled with cellulose sponges. Sampling was limited to a 25- by 25-cm area and performed in the same manner as the CDC sampling method. Samples were then processed using either the alternative "Fast Analysis" method or the "CDC method". Three different analysts repeated the tests at each concentration utilizing each method. Mean recoveries, labor time, and potentially hazardous waste produced were compared for the two methods. The mean percent recoveries and standard errors for the samples processed using the "CDC method" were 39.9 ± 6.7, 43 ± 7.6, and 36.8 ± 10.1 for the 5000, 500, and 50 spore loading levels, respectively; compared to 54.2 ± 12.9, 64.2 ± 21.7, and 45.2 ± 8.6 for the "Fast Analysis" method. At each titer tested the "Fast Analysis" method resulted in a statistically significant higher percent recovery. Furthermore, analysts processed samples utilizing the "Fast Analysis" method in less than half the time and generated half as much potentially hazardous waste compared to the "CDC method".
环境采样是生物恐怖事件后去污验证过程的关键组成部分。目前的工作旨在开发一种劳动强度较低的方法，用于处理可能被低浓度炭疽芽孢杆菌孢子污染（即去污后）的纤维素海绵擦拭物。将替代的快速分析处理方法与疾病预防控制中心（CDC）为实验室反应网络（LRN）验证的处理方案进行了比较。釉面砖（1102 cm ）接种了 50、500 或 5000 个苏云金芽孢杆菌亚种。 kurstaki（Btk）孢子，然后用纤维素海绵采样。采样面积限制在 25 厘米×25 厘米，并采用与 CDC 采样方法相同的方式进行。然后使用替代的“快速分析”方法或“CDC 方法”处理样品。每个方法使用每个方法，由三位不同的分析人员在每个浓度下重复测试。比较了两种方法的平均回收率、工时和产生的潜在危险废物。使用“CDC 方法”处理的样品的平均回收率和标准误差分别为 39.9 ± 6.7、43 ± 7.6 和 36.8 ± 10.1，对于 5000、500 和 50 个孢子加载水平；相比之下，使用“快速分析”方法的回收率分别为 54.2 ± 12.9、64.2 ± 21.7 和 45.2 ± 8.6。在每个测试的滴度下，“快速分析”方法的回收率均显著更高。此外，与“CDC 方法”相比，分析人员使用“快速分析”方法处理样品的时间不到一半，产生的潜在危险废物量也减少了一半。
