Mayo Alumni Magazine 2002 Spring - MC4409-0402 - Mayo Clinic

A race against time:
Mayo Clinic
microbiology
team sprints
to finish
with rapid
anthrax test
rom heartening tales of
selflessness, compassion
and heroism at ground
zero to generous Fdonations far from the site, the
terrible events of September 11 united
this diverse land in a hunger for a
sense of community and a need to do
something to help. At Mayo Clinic in
Rochester, a team of microbiologists
fulfilled that need by working around
the clock to produce a one-hour
diagnostic anthrax test.
Team members laid the groundwork
for development of the test over a
period of years, but completed the final
stages in a matter of weeks. With
limited resources and personnel,
investigators chose carefully their focus
of research to maximize clinical
relevance.
Their story offers a behind-thescenes
glimpse at the way in which
Mayo scientists apply the results of
basic science research to clinical
medicine to produce a new product or
2 Mayo Alumni Spring 2002