Table 1. Comparison of the New York City Bioterrorism Response Laboratory requirements before and after October 12, 2001^a,b.

	Before October 12, 2001	After the surge of specimens
Specimen load	1 every 2–3 months	2,700 nasal swabs/2 weeks 3,200 environmental specimens/2 months
Laboratory space	One room	10 laboratories 3 evidence rooms 4 support areas Command center (suite of offices) Separate storage area for supplies
Staff	2 people rotating on call schedule	>75c
Technology	Basic microbiology capabilities • γ phage • DFA	Rapid PCR assays with conventional basic microbiology capabilities
Supplies	General laboratory supplies	6 tons flown to NYC from CDC
Miscellaneous	No database 1 stand-alone computer	Clinical database Environmental database 30 computers linking all areas of the building

^aWhen the first letter tested positive for spores of Bacillus anthracis was received.
^bPCR, polymerase chain reaction; DFA, direct fluorescent antibody assay; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; NYC, New York City.
^cFrom the NYC Public Health Laboratory, CDC, NYC Department of Health, and Department of Defense.