title: [On-site detection of bioterrorism-relevant agents : Rapid detection methods for viruses, bacteria and toxins - capabilities and limitations].
abstract: In Europe, besides the threat of terrorist attacks involving conventional methods such as explosive devices and automatic weapons, there is also a potential threat of terrorist groups using non-conventional material like biological agents in the scope of future attacks. Consequently, rapid and reliable detection systems for biological agents are being developed and tested continuously to inform crisis management. For environmental detection, a broad spectrum of different laboratory-based techniques has been developed for relevant biological agents. However for environmental samples, fast and reliable on-site detection methods are desired by first responders for rapid assessment.Based on different functional principles, generic, immunological and nucleic-acid-based on-site detection methods can be distinguished. Those should be facile, fast, sensitive, and specific. However, commercially available kits usually have limited sensitivity and often have not been validated independently. Furthermore in this context, the multitude of relevant biological agents that potentially have to be considered present in complex environmental matrices poses a serious challenge for reliable detection. Therefore, detailed knowledge of the specific scope of applications and the limitations of different analytical systems is necessary to evaluate the results obtained purposefully.The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the analytical principles, benefits and limitations of prevailing on-site environmental detection systems for bioterrorism-relevant viruses, bacteria and toxins. Despite promising developments the informative value of currently available on-site tests is still limited. Thus, expert laboratories have to conduct confirmatory testing.
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland. SternD@rki.de.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Stern
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Richter
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Livia
authors: L
authors: Schrick
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Lasch
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Kathrin
authors: K
authors: Keeren
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Polleichtner
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Lemmer
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Nitsche
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Grunow
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Herzog
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Brigitte G
authors: BG
authors: Dorner
authors: Zentrum für Biologische Gefahren und Spezielle Pathogene (ZBS), Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Schaade
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D054045:Biological Warfare Agents / Q000145:classification*; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000032:analysis*; D014780:Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D014118:Toxins, Biological
keywords: Bacteria; On-site detection; Rapid detection; Toxins; Viruses