Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assays for Identification of Biological Agents in Sample Unknowns: NATO SIBCA. Exercise 5
Abstract
In March 2004, the NATO Panel VII Subgroup on Sampling and Identification of Biological and Chemical Agents (SIB CA) conducted the fifth international training exercise on identification of biological agents. Seventeen NATO/PfP national laboratories participated: Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany (2 laboratories), Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The designated laboratory for Canada was Defence R&D Canada - Suffield (DRDC Suffield). Participant laboratories were sent eight leaves on which sample unknowns had been adsorbed. Participants were advised that samples would contain any one of the following gamma-irradiated organisms: Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Brucella melitensis, Francisella tularensis, Vibrio cholerae, Burkholderia mallei, Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus, vaccinia virus, Coxiella burnetii, or yellow fever virus. An immunological-based technology, the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), was used at DRDC Suffield for screening of sample unknowns. Antigen capture ELISAs for each of the 10 possible biological agents were used to screen the samples. Five biological agent unknowns were identified by ELISA, three at the species level: V cholerae, F. tularensis, and Y pestis, and two at the genus level: both Brucella spp. No agents were identified in three additional samples. A comparison of the ELISA results with the identity of organisms in SlBCA sample unknowns, as revealed by Dugway Proving Ground following the exercise, indicated confirmed identification of four of the agents and the sample blank, one unconfirmed identification, and two false negative identifications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA430738
Entities
People
- H. G. Thompson
- R. E. Fulton