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Anthrax Screen
Homeland security requires calm and steady vigilance and adequate tools to screen for various bio-threats.
One such threat is Anthrax.
At
Home Health Science, Inc., a BioSafety Products development company,
we know spores. Our microbiologists have developed and validated a
patent-pending Bacillus Spore Screening System, called, "Anthrax Screen™".
This Kit provides the tools and method for the daily field testing of samples collected from surfaces,
air, food, water, etc. This is not a consumer product device and system.
This simple, inexpensive method and kit is an early warning bio-threat environmental screening device.
The device is specifically designed to be employed by non-scientist, non-laboratory personnel who would
be trained to collect daily routine samples from their work areas and safely conduct this initial screening
test, for a facility.
 Technology
This is a field screening technology, which can detect and amplify extremely low levels of
visually undetectable environmentally dispersed Bacillus spores. This is not a human or veterinary
clinical testing device or diagnostic tool.
The kit is adaptable to multiple methods of sample collection devices such as wipe, swab, tape, filter,
gravity or volumetric air.
The sample is applied to a bio-nutrient film, hydrated, heat-shocked and incubated. The unique film
heat-shocking methodology will effectively kill all the bacteria except the sporulated species.
If viable Bacillus spores are present, they will germinate upon incubation, amplify, and display as distinct
colored colonies.
If a sample displays a positive reading (colored colonies), it can be further screened using an Anthrax-specific test device or immediately be submitted to a certified laboratory for positive or
negative confirmation tests.
Cost Effectiveness
Since the vast majority of all indoor air sampling events will show no Bacillus spores, the expensive secondary confirmation testing will not be required
as part of the routine testing.
Bio-Threat/BioSafety
This BioSafety System is the most advantageous non-military
biodefense screening methodology available
to protect the safety of employees at risk, because it can be quickly deployed, easily operated
and will be extremely cost effective. Facilities which employ this BioSafety technology will be
able to detect an Anthrax dispersal event before anyone becomes sick, since the disease incubation
in humans is 1-7 days and as long as 60 days (CDC.gov – 2/6/02) and this first level Anthrax
screening provides results in 24 to 48 hours.
Availability
The Kit and System are in their final stages of independent validation and pre-production design.
The kit is expected to be available in mid 2002. A pre-production version of the
kit is on its way to CDC for evaluation and comment.
Inquiries
This bio-threat screening device is envisioned as a tool to protect critical facilities.
This is not a
retail consumer product.
Inquiries are welcome from government institutions and agencies, industry and strategic
partners. Email us at biot@homehealthscience.com.
Patent
A Patent Application has been filed describing a variety of novel sample collection methods,
heat shocking technique, tools and kit components. Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 depict
some of the kit components and processes.
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