Bacillus anthracis
Lab test instructions for Bacillus anthracis
Diseases
Clinical manifestations of anthrax include:
- Cutaneous
- Gastrointestinal
- Inhalational
- injection-associated disease
Cutaneous anthrax may result in malignant pustules or edema, while inhalational anthrax, historically referred to as woolsorters’ (or ragpickers’) disease, may result in severe respiratory distress.
Organisms
Bacillus anthracis
Test Method
Various
Availability
- All clients must consult with the Section of Epidemiology for approval before testing.
- If approved by Epidemiology, Contact ASPHL Biothreat Team before submitting samples.
Specimen type
- Bacterial isolate
- cutaneous lesion
- Stool
- rectal swab
- blood cultures
- whole blood
- Sputum
- CSF
- Tissue
- nasal swab (for intentional release exposures)
- environmental samples
Specimen collection instructions
Refer to ASM Sentinel Level Clinical Microbiology Guidelines and contact ASPHL with questions.
Storage and transport
- Store refrigerated
- Ship with cool packs
- Ambient temperature shipping is acceptable
- Package and label as UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B.
- Ship as quickly as possible.
With approval, ship to: Anchorage Public Health Laboratory, ATNN: Special Pathogens Unit.
Results
- Presumptive: B. anthracis detected/not detected
- Confirmatory: B. anthracis detected/not detected
A normal result is not detected.
Turnaround time
2-5 days
