[Shermy]

Testing's not easy for anthrax, and experts worry about confusing headlines

How many stories have there been that a field test showed positive for Anthrax, the lab test showed otherwise? Numerous. Apparently the field test shows positive for a variety of germs in the Anthrax genus - many are common. The lab test checks for the anthrax species - as I understand it.

[FairOpinion]

I've read that preliminary tests ( field tests) frequently give false positives, then later the labe tests prove there is no anthrax. I think we had quite of few such situation around the time of the anthrax attacks, when everyone had everything imidiately tested for anthrax, and many times prelimary tests showed the presence of anthrax and it was later ruled out after the more accurate tests.

The exact same situation was here, but I guess the FBI doesn't want to take no for an answer.