USA: VITAL LIVING PRODUCTS SET TO DISTRIBUTE ANTHRAX TESTING EQUIPMENT AMIDST BIOWARFARE SCARE
Record ID:
647355
USA: VITAL LIVING PRODUCTS SET TO DISTRIBUTE ANTHRAX TESTING EQUIPMENT AMIDST BIOWARFARE SCARE
- Title: USA: VITAL LIVING PRODUCTS SET TO DISTRIBUTE ANTHRAX TESTING EQUIPMENT AMIDST BIOWARFARE SCARE
- Date: 26th October 2001
- Summary: (W1)WASHINGTON D.C., USA (RECENT) (REUTERS) 1. MV HAZMAT (HAZARDOUS MATERIAL) WORKERS ENTERING BUILDING (4 SHOTS) 0.35 (W1)NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA (OCTOBER 23, 2001) (REUTERS) 2. MV DONALD PODREBARAC AT PRESS CONFERENCE 0.40 3. SCU DISINFECTION KITS AND ANTHRAX TEST KITS SOLD BY VITAL LIVING PRODUCTS 0.45 4. SOUNDBITE (English) DONALD R. PODREBARAC, PRESIDENT, VITAL LIVING PRODUCTS SAYING "One of the issues is sometimes people don't find out they've even been exposed to it until they're sick. In this case with the test, at least someone can do a test, and find out if they, in fact, have been exposed to it. So again the thought process is that it's an early detection system." 1.02 5. SCU PRODUCTS MADE BY VITAL LIVING PRODUCTS; PURTEST ANTHRAX TEST; POURING WATER INTO TEST; PRESS; SWABBING TABLE SURFACE; SCU YELLOW COLORED WATER (7 SHOTS) 1.26 6. DONALD PODREBARAC SHAKING BOTTLE WITH TEST AND SAYING: "Again, this is what it looks like when it's activated, and if it's a positive then it will turn yellow after and up to 48 hours. It's important to note that if after 48 hours it has not turned yellow discard the test and it has not detected any Anthrax." 1.45 (W1)NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA (OCTOBER 23, 2001) (REUTERS) 7. SOUNDBITE (English) DONALD PODREBARAC SAYING "It is not intended to replace labs, what our public health officials do in any manner, shape or form. It is not intended to cause fear. It is intended to act as a deterrent." 1.58 (W1)ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, USA (OCTOBER 24, 2001) (REUTERS) 8. MV DOCTOR TEE GUIDOTTI, M.D., WALKING 2.04 9. SOUNDBITE (English) DOCTOR TEE GUIDOTTI, M.D., PROFESSOR AND CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND TOXICOLOGY EXPERT, SAYING "If people are in harm's way, if they're working in a place that is under assault, in the media in leadership positions, political offices and so forth, then they have every reason to be concerned, it's not a general problem for the average American and I think that as a result, testing really is an illusion in terms of increasing security. The average home is still quite secure." 2.35 (W1)NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA (OCTOBER 23, 2001) (REUTERS) 10. SLV TIMES SQUARE 2.39 11. SOUNDBITE (English) WARREN SOLOW SAYING "Anthrax to me is less scary than the flu. Anthrax is completely treatable with antibiotics, you know the common cold isn't. You go to your Dr. with the common cold and they say go home and get rested, drink fluids, there's no instant fix for that but with Anthrax you just take antibiotics and you're in pretty good shape." 3.00 12. SOUNDBITE (English) MARY THONESEN SAYING "Maybe down the line, but not right now. I'm not worried right now." 3.03 13. SOUNDBITE (English) DEBBIE WHITE SAYING "Everybody's aware of it at the moment. There's so much in the papers isn't there, telling you what to look for what to be careful of. No I don't think I'd bother. 3.12 (W1)WASHINGTON D.C., USA (RECENT) (REUTERS) 14. MV HAZMAT (HAZARDOUS MATERIAL) WORKERS ENTERING BUILDING: MV HAZMAT WORKERS AT FIRETRUCK (2 SHOTS) 3.32 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 10th November 2001 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C.; ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA; NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK; UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVAA5QS00E5FOE82FHBSMVMDAGJW
- Story Text: In the midst of the United States' Anthrax crisis, one
company is hoping to put an anxious public at ease. Vital
Living Products is set to distribute a test that will test
air, surfaces, and water for Anthrax contamination.
Standing next to a portrait of madcap comedians Chevy
Chase and Dan Acroyd, Donald Podrebarac on Tuesday (October
23) struggled to reassure reporters gathered to learn about
his company's PurTest home testing kit for anthrax.
The chief executive of environmental testing company Vital
Living Products chose the Friar's Club comedy venue to promote
the product, which he said will give Americans a sense of
relief from the alarm created by recent germ warfare attacks.
"One of the issues is sometimes people don't find out they've
even been exposed to it until they're sick. In this case with
the test, at least someone can do a test, and find out if
they, in fact, have been exposed to it. So again the thought
process is that it's an early detection system."
Podrebarac sought to counter scientists who doubt the
test's efficacy and say it might create a false sense of
security or even endanger those who rely on it to detect
anthrax, which has killed three people in the United States.
"It's not a general problem for the average American and I
think that as a result, testing really is an illusion in terms
of increasing security. The average home is still quite
secure," said Dr. Tee Guidotti, M.D., a professor of
environmental and occupational health at George Washington
University and a toxicology expert.
Vital Living expects to send the kits to market by
Thanksgiving. Podrebarac said they will sell somewhere between
19 and 25 dollars (U.S.)
Testing for anthrax in the air, water and on surfaces
requires mixing a red solution with water and letting it stand
for 24 to 48 hours between room temperature and 100 degrees
Fahrenheit. The warmer the room, the sooner the results.
Podrebarac refused to reveal the test's methodology
because he said the company had received "suspicious" phone
calls. Vital Living said PurTest Anthrax Test currently
returns false positive results about 5 percent of the time.
Podrebarac warns that the tests are not intended to replace
government or medical intervention if someone suspects they
may have been exposed to Anthrax. "It is not intended to
replace labs, what our public health officials do in any
manner, shape or form. It is not intended to cause fear. It
is intended to act as a deterrent."
ACE Hardware and Myers in Michigan plan to sell the kit,
the company said. Podrebarac hopes it doesn't sell, though he
said he expects it will.
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