In developed countries, microbiologists do these tests with blood from wool sheep or horses.
VOA: special.2009.08.03
In Afghanistan, Duck-worth has a dozen people setting specifications (wool must be fromsheep in Gazni, Afghanistan) and working with the families and health care providers.
Chappell's newest business venture is Rambler's Way Farm, which this summer will start selling long underwear knitted by American workers from superfine wool taken from Maine, Montana and Dakotas-raised sheep.
That means separating the unwanted coarse outer hair of the goats from the valuable ultrafine cashmere underfleece, which measures just 12 to 18 microns in width (one sheepwool fiber is more like 25 microns wide).