Patent ID: 7374888

Claim:
A method for the detection of an anti- B. anthracis antibody present in a biological sample, the method comprising: (i) contacting a biological sample from an animal with an affinity agent comprising at least 10 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the affinity agent forms a first complex with the anti- B. anthracis antibody if the anti- B. anthracis antibody is present in the sample, and wherein if an antibody specific for B. anthracis surface array protein is not present in the sample the affinity agent does not specifically bind the antibody, and wherein said affinity agent detects antibodies that specifically bind B. anthracis surface array protein; and (ii) detecting the presence or absence of the first complex, wherein the presence of the first complex indicates the presence of antibodies to B. anthracis in the sample.