SPADA

Diagnostics/environmental detection

“If further development of procedures for the environmental detection of Variola virus or for diagnostic purposes were to be pursued, more extensive knowledge of the genome variability, predicted protein sequences, virion surface structure, and functionality of Variola virus from widely dispersed geographic sources would be needed.*”

* Assessment of Future Scientific Needs for Live Variola Virus ; N.A.Press (1999)

Diagnostics

• Why “if?”

• Proponents, in 1999, that EM and standard PCR techniques were sufficient for smallpox diagnostics

– As of 2002 – survey of EM capacity in state health departments reveals only 3-8 with skilled capability to any capability

– Newer technology: real time PCR