Only RAMP Meets New Standards For Rapid Anthrax Detection

Response Biomedical RAMP® Anthrax Test is the only rapid biological detection system to meet the new performance standards introduced by AOAC INTERNATIONAL for rapid immunoassay-based anthrax detection systems.

Following rigorous independent evaluation, funded by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the RAMP Anthrax Test is now laboratory tested and approved as both an AOAC Performance Tested Methods, and Official Methods of Analysis.

Shortly after September 11th terrorist attacks, the U.S. was faced with an outbreak of anthrax. Accurate and reliable methods were needed to detect B. anthracis in order to protect public health.

The Department of Homeland Security recognized the need for an independent evaluation of these methods and in June 2003, partnered with AOAC INTERNATIONAL to fund the validation of existing methods for B. anthracis. A taskforce was formed that included representatives from industry, academia, and many government agencies to help in the selection of the methods and design of the studies.

Five rapid immunoassay-based anthrax field tests have undergone comprehensive validation through the AOAC harmonized Performance Tested Methods^SM program, which provides an independent third-party review of test kit performance claims. RAMP has the exclusive designation of being the only commercially available system to meet the new standards for rapid and reliable anthrax detection.

In studies designed by AOAC scientists and implemented at U.S. Army Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah, RAMP was demonstrated to reliably detect Bacillus anthracis isolates representing a wide variety of geographic sources and physical variants. The specificity of RAMP was also demonstrated in evaluations to confirm that it would not cross react with non-Bacillus anthracis bacteria.

To judge the accuracy of the data generated, AOAC organized 12 laboratories nationwide to assess RAMP’s performance using identical samples. The RAMP test performed well in the collaborative study, and little variation was seen in the data produced by the 12 laboratories.

For more information on this study go to http://www.aoac.org/ILM/sept_oct_04/homeland_partners.htm