Field Test for Ricin Toxin Available from Osborn Scientific; Company Confirms Availability of Test Kit for Biological Warfare Agent Found in Iraqi Lab.Business Editors LAKESIDE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2002 In response to inquiries from governmental agencies, Osborn Scientific confirmed today that its environmental test kit for ricin toxin is available for first responder first responder First response personnel Emergency medicine A person employed in the public sector–EMT, fire fighter, police, volunteer EMS–whose duties include provision of immediate medical care in the event of an emergency; FRs have basic emergency units, including the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. , CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation and state and local agencies. Inquiries were spurned spurn v. spurned, spurn·ing, spurns v.tr. 1. To reject disdainfully or contemptuously; scorn. See Synonyms at refuse1. 2. To kick at or tread on disdainfully. v. by news reports linking the al Qaeda terrorist group to a northern Iraq laboratory suspected of producing ricin toxin, a byproduct of the widely available castor bean plant. Field test kits for ricin ricin /ri·cin/ (ri´sin) a phytotoxin in the seeds of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis), used in the synthesis of immunotoxins. ri·cin n. , similar in concept to a home pregnancy test, have been developed over the past three years as part of Osborn Scientific Group's (OSG OSG Open Scene Graph OSG Open Science Grid OSG Office of the Secretary-General (United Nations) OSG Open Systems Group OSG Office of the Surgeon General (HHS - PHS) ) comprehensive Biowarfare Agent Detection Device product line. OSG's first product, anthrax detection, is extremely sensitive and specific to anthrax, as confirmed by Department of Defense testing that is available at the company's web site. The OSG ricin test is intended for use in discovering the toxin in powders or liquids. Results are available within minutes -- a critical factor for first responders in determining an immediate course of action. Suspected substances should also be sent to an approved laboratory for confirmation of results (however, these labs results may take days). The OSG product was designed to identify ricin toxin in quantities that approximate one-twentieth (1/20th) of a spec of dust, and recent tests have shown positive detection in as little as 1/1000th of a dust particle. U.S. governmental agencies have purchased OSG's ricin toxin detection product for applications that may include military and food supply testing. The product is available to other federal, state and local first responders through Osborn Scientific's distribution partners, which include Fisher Scientific, Lab Safety, L.N. Curtis and Safeware. Test kits are manufactured at Osborn Scientific's FDA certified U.S. facilities. Other products under development include tests for small pox pox (poks) any eruptive or pustular disease, especially one caused by a virus, e.g., chickenpox, cowpox, etc. pox n. 1. , plague, and botulinum toxin. Further information is available at www.osborn-scientific.com. |
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