SPADA Meeting Book

9 Guidance for Soil Collection, Characterization and Application  for Biothreat Agent Detection Method and Site Evaluations • Provides guidance on the standardization of practices for  collection, application‐driven processing, characterization  and use of soil as a sample matrix or potentially interfering  substance in biothreat agent detection assays (validation  and evaluation) • Provides guidance on the standards for soils used in site  assessments, evaluation of biothreat agent  decontamination and remediation procedures • Considerations for the development of standard reference  materials • Special Considerations: Clay content/soil texture, pH,  microorganism content and characterization, moisture, soil  horizons, organic matter (carbon content)

Major Comments Submitted

• Title not as descriptive as document – Changed to "Guidance for Soil Collection, 

Characterization and Application for Biothreat Agent  Detection Method and Site Evaluations“

• Line 46 specifies laboratory, while line 26 includes  field‐deployable. Please clarify if scope includes  both. Suspicious powder collection also? – Re‐wrote the text with the intent to clarify the main  use of the guidance documents.