from the bench
Technology Evaluation Recent technology evaluations include:
Technological advances in
instrumentation allow for faster detection
and better characterization of biothreat
agents. Moreover, as instruments become
obsolete it is vital that replacement
instruments are identified and validated
before being implemented. In addition
to assay evaluations, the Wadsworth
Center Biodefense Laboratory has
evaluated several new technologies.
One such evaluation was the validation
of a screening panel for biothreat
agent DNA using the Thermo Fisher
QuantStudio ® Dx rt-PCR and the ABI
7500 Fast Dx. The purpose of this study
was to verify that the QuantStudio ® Dx
generates non-inferior results to those
generated by the ABI 7500 Fast Dx. • Evaluation of the Razor EX
Biodetection system used by first
responders as a potential tool for
field screening biothreat agents.
• Evaluation of the Film Array
BioThreat-E for the presumptive
detection of Ebola Zaire virus
RNA in clinical specimens.
Understanding the limit of
detection as well as the limitations
of these assays is critical for
administrative decision making
by federal, state and local
emergency management and
public health laboratories.”
• Determining the accuracy of the
MALDI-TOF MS security libraries
to identify biothreat agents on two
MALDI-TOF MS instruments.
These validation and verification
studies will greatly enhance LRN-B
laboratories’ ability to test for and detect
biothreat agents as well as support
enhanced capability and capacity for
the network during both intentional
and unintentional responses. n
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APHL.org
Summer 2017 LAB MATTERS
29