Sampling for Microbial Forensic Investigations

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with sampling for microbial forensic investigations. An ability to determine the source, type, and extent of a biological attack reliably and accurately is critical not only to the public health response but also for successful criminal prosecution of the perpetrator. Environmental samples are one of the key elements of evidence in both epidemiological and forensic investigations. Therefore, it is critical that methods used for sample collection and analyses are validated. In terms of public health, even an unconfirmed positive result from analysis of environmental samples can usefully initiate prophylaxis, treatment, or both, as well as implementation of containment measures. For forensic investigation, a higher level of certainty is needed than that for epidemiological investigation: beyond reasonable doubt becomes the standard that all of the methods, individually and collectively, must meet. Attaining a higher level of certainty has resource implications for conducting forensic investigations, as well as requirements for methods that must meet the standards of legal acceptability. Microbial forensics is an infant science whose development was forced because of the need to tie the 2001 anthrax attack to a specific perpetrator, by tracing the source of the biological material to a particular laboratory. It is likely that additional methods will be developed to improve the ability to pinpoint sources of microbes other than anthrax. Such improved methods will have value not only in forensic investigations, but also by enhancing the capability and robustness of epidemiological investigations.