Specifically, we examined: 1) the performance of five molecular markers currently in use (pagA with BAPA probe, Ba-1, lef, capB, GI4) to identify B. anthracis from other bacteria using cultures of blood smears; (2) the performance of five molecular markers to identify B. anthracis from B. cereus and other closely related bacteria; and 3) we evaluated the agreement between anthrax diagnoses based on blood smear microscopy versus molecular techniques. Here, PRDX1 is linked to anthrax infection.