Threshold(trade mark) Immunoassays for Identification of Biological Agents: NATO SIBCA Exercise III
Abstract
In February 2001, the NATO Panel VII Subgroup on Sampling and Identification of Biological and Chemical Agents (SIBCA) conducted the third international training exercise on the identification of biological agents. Fourteen NATO national laboratories participated: Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany (two laboratories), Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States (two laboratories). The designated laboratory for Canada was Defence R&D Canada - Suffield (DRDC Suffield). Participant laboratories were sent seven samples, four liquid (including one buffer blank) and three solid, consisting of soil. Participants were advised that samples could contain any one of the following gamma-irradiated organisms: Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Brucella melitensis, Francisella tularensis, Vibrio cholera, Burkholderia mallei; Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus, Vaccinia virus, Coxiella burnetti, or Yellow fever virus. A number of immunologically-based technologies were used at DRDC Suffield for screening of sample unknowns, one of which was the Threshold(TM) assay, a Light Addressable Potentiometric Sensor (LAPS) assay. Antigen capture Threshold(TM) assays were available for five biological agents: Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Brucella melitensis, Francisella tularensis, and Burkholderia mallet. Two biological agents were identified by Threshold(TM), both from the liquid samples (B. melitensis and F. tularensis). No "false positive" or "false negative" reactions were observed with SIBCA liquid samples. However, soil-extracted samples produced multiple "false positive" reactions and one "false negative" reaction, making identification of agents from this medium impossible to achieve.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA414871
Entities
People
- H. G. Thompson
- R. E. Fulton