Table 4.

Sample results by sample type and assay (toxin ELISA and type C toxin gene RT-rtPCR).

No. of samples from all cases or positive cases† by sample type	Sample results (number of samples and/or %)*
	ELISA positive only	RT-rtPCR positive only	ELISA & RT-rtPCR positive	Total of positive samples
Body fluids, n = 158‡	11 (7%)	13 (8%)	3 (2%)	27 (17%)
From positive cases, n = 113§	10%	11%	3%	24%
GI contents, n = 250	14 (6%)	39 (16%)	18 (7%)	71 (28%)
From positive cases, n = 175	8%	22%	10%	41%
Tissues/organs excluding livers, n = 49	2 (4%)	2 (4%)	1 (2%)	5 (10%)
From positive cases, n = 37	5%	5%	3%	14%
Livers, n = 163	5 (3%)	17 (10%)	9 (6%)	31 (19%)
From positive cases, n = 90	6%	19%	10%	34%
Environmental samples (water, sediment, maggots), n = 18	1 (6%)	0 (0%)	6 (33%)	7 (39%)
From positive cases, n = 15	7%	0%	40%	47%
Total no. of samples, n = 638	33 (5%)	71 (11%)	37 (6%)	141 (22%)
From positive cases, n = 430	8%	17%	9%	33%
Positive samples only, n = 141¦	33 (23%)	71 (50%)	37 (26%)	141 (100%)

GI = gastrointestinal content.

^*Entries are number of positive samples of each sample type, followed by percentage of all samples of that type, followed by (in next row) percentage of samples of that type in positive cases†.

^†Cases with at least one positive ELISA or RT-rtPCR sample (i.e., cases with confirmed or suspect botulism diagnoses).

^‡Sera, bloods or plasma; 4 vitreous humor; 1 body cavity fluid; 1 pericardial fluid.

^§Sera, bloods or plasma; 2 vitreous humor; 2 pericardial fluid.

^¦Samples positive in at least one of the assays. Number of positive samples in each category is followed by percentage of the positive samples in parentheses.