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Tests Available
Molecular identification of the bioterrorism agents such as B. anthracis, Brucella spp.,
Burkholderia spp., C. botulinum toxin, Ricin, F. tularensis, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B,
Y.pestis, Vaccinia and Varicella Virus is currently performed using real-time PCR and/or EIA
protocols developed and distributed by the Laboratory Response Network of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our laboratory also performs MSDH-designed assays
for the molecular detection of the following infectious agents: B. pertussis, Influenza A and B,
Norovirus, West Nile Virus, and Shiga-Toxin producing E. coli. Molecular subtyping of the
food-borne disease-causing bacteria Salmonella, shigella and E. coli is also performed by our laboratory
using pulse-field electrophoresis (PFGE) and is coordinated through PulseNet, the CDC's national
foodborne disease detection network.
Technology
Molecular Diagnostic assays utilize a broad range of techniques that enable the rapid identification of microorganisms
at the "genetic" level. Our real-time PCR technology identifies the presence of bioterrorism and/or infectious agents
within both clinical and environmental samples by detecting agent-specific RNA or DNA sequences. Potential bioterrorism
agents can also be detected using various immunoassays that detect certain antigens or toxins expressed by
various bacterial agents. PFGE is used to produce DNA "fingerprints" that can be compared to a CDC database to
determine if a particular bacterial isolate related to a food-borne illness outbreak in MS is related to a larger
national outbreak.
Instrumentation includes conventional thermal cyclers, rapid cycle real-time PCR instruments,
a bead-based immunoassay platform, a multi-label fluorescence reader, a nucleic acid sequencer, and various
automated nucleic acid extractors.
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