Brazilian laboratory FIOCRUZ (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation) President Paulo Buss speaks to the media, in Rio de Janeiro, October 20, 2001. Brazilian laboratory said that material contained in a letter sent to the Rio bureau of The New York Times had tested negative for anthrax. The New York Times had said last Friday on October 19 that the suspect letter, handed over unopened to Brazilian authorities last week, had tested positive for "bacteria or spores consistent with anthrax".