AUGUSTA – Since the Sept. 11 attacks, Maine’s Public Health Laboratory has discovered that suspicious substances sent there for analysis turned out to be sugar, sand, cornstarch and Sheetrock dust. There have been no signs of anthrax so far.

“Generally our approach is to anticipate the worst and then try to be there for people’s needs,” said Jack Krueger, laboratory director. “My attitude is attempting to be combat-ready in a microbial war.”

Before concerns about anthrax became widespread, lab employees spent their time testing birds for the West Nile virus. The employees also handled testing for less-exotic illnesses such as rabies, tuberculosis and AIDS.

With each anthrax scare, the lab ends up doing more anthrax testing.

“We see an increase in samples almost immediately,” Krueger said.

Between last Wednesday and Friday, the lab received 32 samples of suspicious substances. They came from around the state in a variety of colors.

The lab processed 28 of the samples. The rest were inappropriate for testing, Krueger said.

Protocols for handling suspicious substances have gone out to emergency management, police and fire departments around the state, according to Steve Burgess, deputy director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency.

“They’re doing a more thorough job at the local level in screening out what they send to the state,” Burgess said.

The laboratory might go $100,000 over budget for such expenses as hiring new staff and buying a new microscope since Oct. 11.

The state’s effort has been coordinated with those of other laboratories in Maine and with national agencies.

Krueger has had conference calls with state laboratories, the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

“We’re trying to bring in all our government resources for this,” he said.