Bioterrorism

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of test systems in clinical microbiology that may be used to rule out microorganisms that might be suspected as agents of bioterrorism. The Germ Theory of Disease, which explains how microorganisms invade the body and cause certain diseases, was unknown prior to the 19th century but use of biological weapons, in the form of microbial pathogens or toxins, dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The anthrax event in 2001 was, overall, successful and essentially served as a wake up call to the respective governmental, law enforcement, emergency response, and medical communities. The primary mission of the Laboratory Response Network is ensuring an effective laboratory response to bioterrorism as well as emerging infectious diseases. There are a wide variety of rapid methods in the market place such as immunoassay combined with PCR, designed to detect biothreat agents in environmental samples.