title: Storage Effects on Sample Integrity of Environmental Surface Sampling Specimens withBacillus anthracisSpores.
abstract: The effect of packaging, shipping temperatures and storage times on recovery ofBacillus anthracis. Sterne spores from swabs was investigated. Macrofoam swabs were pre-moistened, inoculated withBacillus anthracisspores, and packaged in primary containment or secondary containment before storage at -15°C, 5°C, 21°C, or 35°C for 0-7 days. Swabs were processed according to validated Centers for Disease Control/Laboratory Response Network culture protocols, and the percent recovery relative to a reference sample (T0) was determined for each variable. No differences were observed in recovery between swabs held at -15° and 5°C, (p ≥ 0.23). These two temperatures provided significantly better recovery than swabs held at 21°C or 35°C (all 7 days pooled, p ≤ 0.04). The percent recovery at 5°C was not significantly different if processed on days 1, 2 or 4, but was significantly lower on day 7 (day 2 vs. 7, 5°C, 102, p=0.03). Secondary containment provided significantly better percent recovery than primary containment, regardless of storage time (5°C data, p ≤ 0.008). The integrity of environmental swab samples containingBacillus anthracisspores shipped in secondary containment was maintained when stored at -15°C or 5°C and processed within 4 days to yield the optimum percent recovery of spores.
authors.affiliation: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: K Allison
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.affiliation: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Noble-Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Arduino
keywords: Bacillus anthracis; Environmental sampling; Shipping integrity; Swab; qPCR