- Safety
- Botulinum toxin is very poisonous. Manipulation of specimen
material possibly containing toxin should be avoided, but if necessary
use Biosafety Level 3 practices.
- If botulism toxin poisoning is suspected, notify your state
public health laboratory IMMEDIATELY for evaluation and referral
- Botulism is a medical emergency even when criminal activity
is not suspected. Diagnosis is made by clinical findings, confirmed by
toxin detection. Toxin detection is available at selected public health
laboratories
- Responsibility of the Level A Laboratory is limited to
advising medical staff on specimen selection, packing, shipping, and
notification of recipient laboratory about specimens from suspected
case
- Level A laboratories should not attempt to culture, identify
the organism, or perform toxin assays
- SAMPLES OBTAINED FROM A SUSPECTED RELEASE OR EXPOSURE MUST BE
REFERRED TO YOUR STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY FOR TOXIN
ASSAY.
| Specimen Selection |
|---|
| Specimen |
Transport Conditions |
| Enema fluid: Collect 20 cc of fluid. Purge with a
minimum of sterile, non-bacteriostatic water to minimize dilution of
toxin. |
4°C |
| Food sample: Collect 10-50 g. Submit food in
original container. Place each container into leakproof, sealed
transport device. |
4°C |
| Nasal swab: For aerosolized release, collect nasal swabs
for C. botulinum and serum for toxin testing. |
Room Temp |
| Serum: Collect 10 cc of serum. |
4°C |
- Contact
- If you suspect the above agent, immediately contact (in the order presented):
- Drs. Lucy DesJardin and Mike Pentella at the University
Hygienic Laboratory. If they aren't readily available, ask for someone in
the Bacteriology, Virology, Serology, or Molecular laboratory.
319.335.4500 or 1.800.421.IOWA(4692)
- University Hygienic Laboratory Duty Officer
319.335.4500 or 319.530.5981
- As a final resort, the following 24-hour emergency hotlines
have been established:
Iowa Public Health Emergency Terrorism/Disaster Notification Hotline
1.866.834.9671
Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 Spill Hotline
913.281.0991
CDC Hotline 404.639.2540 or 777.488.7100
National Response Center (oil and chemical spills) 800.424.8802
Note: If you have isolated an organism that resembles
Clostridium botulinum, contact your state public health laboratory for
appropriate action.
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