Biodetectors in Defence
Biological Warfare Agents (BWAs) include bacterial agents, viral agents, rickettsiae and biological toxins. Rapid detection thus enables faster, efficient and tailored response as it uses new approaches to differentiate between biological infections and natural contaminants.
Investigating a suspicious incidence in the environment, detection of biological and chemical agents for the early responders requires identifying threat agents for planning and implementing the response systems. A number of companies are developing advanced and portable detectors using advanced technologies, instrumentation and diagnostic system, that play an important role in the early detection and identification of the biological threat agent’s release offering the possibility of rapid, accurate, and sensitive Biodetectors for use in battlefield or urban settings. Advanced detection systems provide early warning, identify populations at risk and contaminated areas and facilitate prompt treatment that integrates technology, operations, and policy and provides a framework for coordinated local, state, and federal emergency response to minimize mortality and morbidity.
Effective detection of biological agents in the environment requires early alert of presence of bioagents and the potential danger and to determine the right counter measures. Fully automated Biodetectors have been devised for real-time sample collection, detection, and identification in the field while taking care to maintain the highest level of sensitivity. Biodetectors are available designed for fixed and 24/7 surveillance, outdoor and indoor, which use different principles and technologies for identification and quantification of the bioagents.
The present guide reports information on compatible instruments, consumables, and computer-based laboratory systems available for applications in life science and analytical chemistry, either exclusively for detection of biological warfare agents or has the dual application capabilities of detecting both the biological warfare agents and chemical warfare agents. Information is also provided to the source of these technologies and similar technologies and systems.
Summarized information along with technical specifications is provided on commercially available equipment and technologies that can be used by first responders, military, homeland security agencies and others to investigate an unusual event that has happened or is in progress in the environment, by collecting, screening and identifying the biological materials from the field.
The report aims only to provide useful information about available biodetection equipment, technologies and resources to help end-users make informed decisions on technology procurement and use, providing them options best suited to meet their requirements.
For this purpose, this report provides information only on available equipment and detection technologies and not to make any comparison in them. Thereby, minimum information is provided on the performance metrics in terms of quantity or concentration of organism detected as far as possible, reference to certification by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has also been avoided so as to minimize the biased decisions.
The report lists range of gadgets, instruments, devices and technologies available from leading global providers for environmental alerts, sampling and detection, and safety of food and water from biological contaminants including information on decontaminants and protective equipment for first responders. However, the list is neither exhaustive and nor an endorsement of any technology described herein and similar technologies may be available from other companies.
The guide meant for reference purposes would be useful for educating the general public, defence industry, homeland security agencies, local, state and national governments on biological and chemical defence matters regarding available equipment and technologies to combat WMDs, terrorism, and homeland security for safety of citizens and critical infrastructure and respond to incidents of CBRNe.