Powder Found at University of Texas Not Ricin

On Sunday, a suspicious powder discovered within a roll of quarters in a University of Texas dormitory laundry room tested negative for the potentially deadly poison ricin, CNN reports.

Preliminary tests of the whitish-brown powder indicated that it was ricin; however, Federal Bureau of Investigation Spokesperson Rene Salinas said subsequent tests have come up negative, according to CNN.

A dormitory washing machine’s coin box was also removed from the Moore-Hill dorm because the suspect powder was discovered in a roll of quarters that was used in the machine, CNN reports.

Nearly 400 people were evacuated from the dorm on Friday after the initial tests showed traces of ricin.

Ricin is produced from a castor bean extract, is extremely potent, and can be deadly.  There is currently no antidote.

Courtney Boeln, a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said final tests were held in Fort Detrick, Md., according to CNN.

For related coverage, read Ricin Found in University of Texas Dorm.

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