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To: Washington Field From: Washington Field Re: 279A-WF-222936-USAMRIID, 05/24/2005 e IVINS' December 2001 microbiological survey According to IVINS, he personally and privately decided nic to obtain environmental samplings of [| desk, plate them on Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA), and look to see if any colonies appeared that were consistent with Bacillus species. IVINS swabbed approximately 20 areas of desk, including the teléphone, computer, and desktop. The plates were taped, taken into the B3 suite and incubated overnight. The following day, the plates were examined for colonies that had a colonial appearance consistent with Bacillus species. Approximately half of the plates yielded one to two colonies that suggested Bacillus species were present. The presumptively positive colonies were not examined by gram stain, nor were they examined for the presence of the plasmids pXOl and pxoO2. IVINS did not examine the colonies on capsule agar.?’ IVINS autoclaved and disposed of all the samples. IVINS [i of his £Eindings, but was unsure if he actually showed the samples. Because the possibility existed that | mi, contained some B.a. spores in the dust and dirt, IVINS decided to thoroughly clean. | desk area, to include everything on the desk.?8 During one interview with the FBI, IVINS stated that he placed the computer keyboard and wrist pad in the pass-thru box to decontaminate them.?? IVINS did not mention these specific actions during other interviews and in sworn statements. IVINS indi at he took no remedial measures beyond cleaning op [| eesk because he did not consider the level of contamination to be significant. He did not believe that a full decontamination of the room was warranted based on the finding of a few presumptively positive spores. IVINS did not perceive himself or his coworkers to be at risk.?° IVINS provi desk area. present on either IVINS' or veral reasons for swabbing only Additionally, the airtlow in room esks upwind from With the exception off IVINS told no one at the j his swabbing efforts_and findings. IVINS did not advise about the survey of workspace, nor did he reveal to the finding of presumptive positive colonies.3* IVINS provided multiple reasons for not reporting his actions.** Because he was concerned that records might be obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, IVINS did not keep records, nor did he verify the presence of B.a. on the cultures.** If the colonies were not B.a., IVINS felt he would have been agitating 5 [