COLUMBUS — If nothing else, the anthrax scare has left Dr. Bill Becker with a unique collection of stuff.

        The medical director of the Ohio Department of Health's laboratory has filled a conference room with items including stereo speakers, a case of beer, office chairs, a coffee maker, bagels, a doughnut box and video tapes.

        “I was disappointed when they took away the beer,” Dr. Becker said with a laugh.

        The items were brought in from around Ohio to be tested for anthrax. The deadly spores have kept much of the country on edge for two months as mail tainted with the powder circulated to their intended targets.

        After performing just three anthrax tests in 2000, the Department of Health has completed more than 1,400 tests just since Oct. 8. No test has been positive for anthrax.

        The crushing load, which at times reached more than 100 requests per day, forced the department lab to reconfigure. Some work was sent out, microbiologists were called in from other agencies, and the lab operated 20 hours a day.

        “I think we had enough resources and planning that we were able to respond in a reasonable and efficient way,” Dr. Becker said.

        Local law enforcement, health departments or the FBI requested the tests.

        One of Dr. Becker's favorite anthrax tests was performed on a head of broccoli.

        “I don't understand what the threat was,” he said. “But they insisted that it had some powder, which we never found. After six days, that thing stank.”

        Dr. Becker said he even got trash bags filled with several baseball jerseys, jock straps and other clothing belonging to Cleveland Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel, whose wife became alarmed when she found a white powder inside a closet at their home.

        Then there's the post office — he declined to say which one — that shut down because of a questionable sample.

        “It was a Gerber baby food ad with a smudge on the outside,” Dr. Becker said.

        But there have been serious threats as well. Threatening chain letters with white powder were sent to Planned Parenthood, government officials and several large companies, Dr. Becker said.

        Powder found in the governor's office mailroom was tested about a month ago. No areas were evacuated, and the powder turned out to be packing residue, said Joe Andrews, a spokesman for Gov. Bob Taft.

        Substances also have included salt, flour, talc, sodium, laundry detergent, baking soda and corn starch.

        Testing has slowed down considerably in the past two weeks, although the Health Department still gets up to a dozen requests per day, Dr. Becker said.

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