>From the front lines of the anthrax wars:

For histology the gram stain is non-specific of course, and we have found it
variable in staining on the cases we have been working on.

For diagnostics we use  cell wall and cell capsule antibodies developed at
the CDC and US Army Research Institute for Infectious Disease. Both are
working  very well (not available commercially as far as I know).


Tim Morken EMT(MSA), HTL(ASCP)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Infectious Disease Pathology
MS-G32 
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333

PH 404-639-3964
FAX 404-639-3043
email tim9@cdc.gov 

-----Original Message-----
From: RSRICHMOND@aol.com [mailto:RSRICHMOND@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 12:03 PM
To: patho-l@majordomo.srv.ualberta.ca; HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: anthrax skin biopsy


A histotechnologist posed this question on Histonet, and I'm cross-posting
it 
to PATHO-L: 

>>My histology department has received a skin biopsy specimen from a patient

with suspected cutaneous anthrax. Can anyone give me a reference as to the 
safe processing of such specimens, and, specifically, one that addresses if 
formalin kills
Bacillus anthracis?<<

I'd suppose that formaldehyde would kill the vegetative form rapidly - not 
sure about the spores. Does anyone know?

Just as important - is skin biopsy useful in diagnosing cutaneous anthrax? 
How does one approach this problem?

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN