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Ivins Borrowed Anthrax-Drying Machine

Device was made to render spore powder from culture samples

By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 5, 2008 10:11 AM CDT

(Newser) – The government’s lead suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks, Bruce Ivins, borrowed a device from his Army bioweapons lab designed to turn germ cultures into dry powder, the Washington Post reports. The machine, known as a lyopholizer, was not commonly borrowed, and had to have been formally checked out—leaving a paper trail now being pursued by investigators.

Scientists at Ivins’ former labs say the device could have processed a few small batches of anthrax in less than a single day. A former colleague of Ivins’ notes that Ivins was part of at least one military project that would have given him legitimate reason to utilize the drying machine.

Investigators claim anthrax suspect Bruce Ivins had access to a device used to render powder from wet germ cultures.
Investigators claim anthrax suspect Bruce Ivins had access to a device used to render powder from wet germ cultures.   (AP Photo/Steve Miller, File)
Bruce E. Ivins, a biodefense researcher is seen in 2003, at Fort Detrick, Md.
Bruce E. Ivins, a biodefense researcher is seen in 2003, at Fort Detrick, Md.   (AP Photo/Frederick News Post, Sam Yu)
This 2003 photo provided by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases shows Dr. Bruce E. Ivins, a bio-defense researcher at Fort Detrick, Md., participating in an awards ceremony.
This 2003 photo provided by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases shows Dr. Bruce E. Ivins, a bio-defense researcher at Fort Detrick, Md., participating in an awards ceremony.   (AP Photo/U.S.Army)
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