Official: Sony employee not exposed to anthrax

CULVER CITY, California (CNN) -- A Sony Pictures employee who opened an envelope containing a white powdery substance was not exposed to anthrax as initially feared, a company spokeswoman said Saturday.

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The employee was admitted to Brotman Medical Center on Friday for blood tests but was sent home shortly thereafter, the Sony spokeswoman said.

The man, whose name was not released, opened an envelope at Sony Pictures' Culver City studios Friday evening, Culver City Police Lt. Dave Tarkenson said. "When he opened it, he took an item out and got a white powdery substance on his hands," he added.

Concerned, the man went to the studio's medical clinic. Officials there contacted the local police and fire departments, who treated it as a hazardous material situation, Tankenson said. The man then was taken to the hospital, where he was examined Friday night, he said.

The Culver City Fire Department showed up at the studios to test the substance but could find no powder, the Sony spokeswoman said.

Authorities said they couldn't explain what happened to the powder.