Unlike the
traditional well diffusion or spot lawn tests, the microplate/microarray test method used in these studies
greatly simplified screening and interpretations of dose-response testing of the natural compounds as it
relates to decontamination applications. Growth of treated cultures was measured turbidometrically with a
microplate reader. Dose-reponse plots were made from the resulting turbidometric data to assess
bactericidal efficacy of the test compounds. Several natural compounds were found effective against
Yersinia and B. anthracis cells and spores using this method. These results show the promise of natural
compounds in the development of environmentally responsible BWA decontamination preparations.