Detection of Biological Warfare Agents in Municipal Tap Water via Standardized Culture Methods
Abstract
Use of Laboratory Response Network (LRN) Level A culture methods was investigated for detection of biological warfare agents and their surrogates in municipal tap water. One hundred liters of water was concentrated 400 fold via ultrafiltration and spiked either before (Phase I) or after (Phase II) ultrafiltration with selected biological warfare agents. Aliquots of retentate were plated onto selective media, putative isolates were picked, and confirmed by standard microbiological and biochemical testing. For Phase I, limits of detection (LODs) were <10, 100-1,000, 500-750, and 750-1,000 CFU/L for Bacillus anthracis, Burkholderia thailandensis, Yersinia pestis and Franciscella tularensis, respectively. For Phase II, LODs were 250, 500, 10\6 and 5,000 CFU/L for B. anthracis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Y. pestis, and F. tularensis, respectively. Overall, preconcentration followed by analyses using LRN Level A methods proved effective in not only detecting select agents or their simulants but also in determining the LOD in municipal water.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA523300
Entities
People
- H. D. Lindquist
- Joseph M. Insalaco
- Kia L. Hopkins
- Mary M. Wade
- Michelle Ziemski
- Tracey D. Biggs
- Vipin Rastogi
Organizations
- Edgewood Chemical Biological Center