Evaluation of sampling tools for environmental sampling of bacterial endospores from porous and nonporous surfaces.
OBJECTIVE
Having and executing a well-defined and validated sampling protocol is critical following a purposeful release of a biological agent for response and recovery activities, for clinical and epidemiological analysis and for forensic purposes. The objective of this study was to address the need for validated sampling and analysis methods called out by the General Accounting Office and others to systematically compare the collection efficiency of various swabs and wipes for collection of bacterial endospores from five different surfaces, both porous and nonporous. This study was also designed to test the collection and extraction solutions used for endospore recovery from swabs and wipes.


RESULTS
Eight collection tools, five swabs and three wipes, were used. Three collection/preservation solutions were evaluated: an ink jet aerosol generator was used to apply Bacillus subtilis endospores to five porous and nonporous surfaces. The collection efficiencies of the swabs and wipes were compared using a statistical multiple comparison analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The ScottPure wipe had the highest collection efficiency and phosphate-buffered saline (PBST) with 0.3% Tween was the best collection solution of those tested.


CONCLUSIONS
Validated sampling for potential biological warfare is of significant importance and this study answered some relevant questions.
Valentine
N B
NB
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA. nancy.valentine@pnl.gov
Butcher
M G
MG
Su
Y-F
YF
Jarman
K H
KH
Matzke
M
M
Webb-Robertson
B-J
BJ
Panisko
E A
EA
Seiders
B A B
BA
Wahl
K L
KL
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001694:Biological Warfare; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D016062:Porosity; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013784:Textiles
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D015386:Hazardous Substances