Defense

US military personnel may test Ebola samples in Liberia

Pentagon officials say approximately two dozen U.S. military specialists in Liberia may conduct tests on laboratory samples for Ebola, but most of the Pentagon'...

Federal News Radio Custom Media@WTOPWFEDcustom

October 8, 2014 12:38 pm

< a min read

Pentagon officials say approximately two dozen U.S. military specialists in Liberia may conduct tests on laboratory samples for Ebola, but most of the Pentagon’s personnel deployed there are not expected to be in direct contact with the virus. General David Rodriguez, head of U.S. Africa Command, said, “U.S. military personnel working in the labs are not interacting with patients, only samples. The testing labs are manned by highly skilled and trained personnel from the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center.” The labs provide 24- hour turnaround results on samples received from area clinics and healthcare providers, with the capability to process up to 100 samples per day.