Anthrax

White House warns tests often inaccurate

Published in Medical Letter on the CDC and FDA, August 18th, 2002

The White House is warning that anthrax field tests - widely used since last fall's attacks - give fast but often incorrect results, prompting authorities to shut down buildings prematurely and hand out unneeded antibiotics.

In a memo sent July 22, 2002, to more than 250 federal agencies and to firefighters, police and local officials across the country, authorities said none of the commercially available field tests are reliable. They advised federal agencies to stop buying them and to cancel any contracts that are pending.

"This equipment does not pass acceptable standards for effectiveness," said the memo from John H. Marburger III, director of...

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Source: Medical Letter on the CDC and FDA (2002-08-18)

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