Industry Forum—An Opening Dialogue with the CBRN Industry

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MMT 2010 Volume: 14 Issue: 4 (June)

Editor’s Note: The Department of Defense has increased its commitment to prevent the proliferation and use of weapons of mass destruction. An extension of this policy calls for the warfighter to monitor and track those lethal agents. As part of a dialogue with industry on WMD threats, we asked several companies to summarize the significant biological threats their government customers are concerned with and describe the biological detection units their companies can offer them.

Lou Banks
Marketing Manager, BioDefense
Idaho Technology Inc.
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The most significant biological threats facing the world are attacks involving anthrax or ricin— anthrax because there is recent history of its use in 2001, which killed five people and infected 17 others. The threat of using ricin is high because it is extremely toxic and is relatively easy to obtain since it is derived from castor beans, which are very abundant and difficult to regulate. Key to effectively responding to a biological attack and minimizing casualties is first to detect the attack and then rapidly identify the biological agent. Idaho Technology provides militaries and civil defense agencies sensitive and reliable instruments to detect biological attacks and identify bioterrorism pathogens. The newest instrument, RAZOR EX, is a battery-powered field instrument that allows first responders to test suspicious powders at the incident scene and make a rapid initial assessment. The RAZOR EX utilizes real-time PCR technology, the same validated technology used in reference labs, to detect and identify bioterrorism pathogens in less than 30 minutes. Because PCR is a widely validated testing method, results from the RAZOR EX are trusted by authorities. Sensitivity levels are 1,000 anthrax spores and error rates are less than 1 percent. In addition to testing for anthrax and ricin, the RAZOR EX tests for a total of 10 category A or B bioterrorism pathogens in a single run. The Joint Biological Agent Identification and Diagnostic System instrument, which is available only to the United States military, is also supplied by Idaho Technology and equips mobile labs with expanded capability to detect more biological agents in more sample types, and will soon include an influenza panel to rapidly test military personnel for multiple flu strains.

Aaron M. Gagnon
Director, Product Management Global Military and Emergency Response
Smiths Detection
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One of the biggest biological threats that government and security agencies face is the unknown. When addressing this type of scare, emergency response teams must first deal with the uncertainty of what threatens them, whether it is as harmless as white flour or as sinister as anthrax. In order to provide the quickest response and the most accurate evaluation of biological threats, Smiths Detection launched BIOACT, a complete tiered solution for emergency response bio-agent threat assessment in the field, utilizing proven and trusted technology.

BIO-ACT, which stands for Biological Advanced Confirmatory Technologies, is a packaged solution comprised of complementary technologies that give emergency responders a complete tool kit to obtain the highest level of accuracy when assessing unknown powder scares in the field. Each element of BIO-ACT provides unique detection and identification capabilities that allow responders to quickly screen and determine a threat level, and therefore make appropriate public safety decisions.

One of the BIO-ACT screening technologies is a handheld FT-IR chemical identifier, our HazMatID Ranger, capable of identifying more than 32,000 unknown solids, liquids and gels. With near-instant results, responders can use this technology to identify most chemical false alarms and suspicious powders often feared to be biothreats quickly and accurately. It also detects the presence of significant protein content, which may include BWAs. A microbe and toxin screening kit, BioCheck, is also provided to rapidly assess suspicious powders by combining a best-in-class protein assay with a pH test.

BIO-ACT also utilizes a microbe and toxin screener named Prime Alert to quickly determine the presence of potentially life-threatening microbes associated with anthrax and plague, as well as bio-toxins such as ricin and botulinum, by providing a highly accurate broad-spectrum analysis. Finally, Bio-Seeq PLUS, a LATE PCR analyzer, completes the package by providing presumptive confirmation of the presence of threats including anthrax, plague, tularemia and panorthopox.

Having multiple layers of detection is critical because no single test is enough when you are dealing with a potential biological warfare agent. The combined tiered approach enables appropriate precautionary decisions to be made rapidly, such as evacuations and other security measures, in order to protect and defend. Smiths Detection’s commitment to being a total solutions provider for quick and accurate biological threat assessment is evident in BIO-ACT, so those on the frontlines can act with the highest degree of confidence when dealing with the unknown in the field.

Amir Ettehadieh
Director, R&D Universal Detection Technology
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UDT’s TS-10-5-agent Detection Strips: one device, one sample, multiple threat recognition.

UDT’s TS-10-5-agent detection kit is the newest initiative in the war against bioterrorism. Inspired by HAZMAT professionals, the 5-agent detection kit is the first and only handheld assay designed to detect and identify up to five separate threats using one sample, in one simple to use device.

UDT guarantees that you will not find an easier, more reliable, more accurate BW [biological warfare] handheld assay. Highlights include no false positives—and more importantly, no false negatives or hook effect—and detects anthrax, ricin toxin, botulinum toxin Y.Pestis (plague) and SEBs in one easy test.

The detection kits are based on the principle of sandwich-immunoassays, where an anti-agent antibody is immobilized on the membrane (immuno-chromatic). The amount of free antigen in the sample competes with the conjugate to bind with the available antibodies binding sites. The color developed due to the reaction of immunoconjugate with suitable substrate is correlated with the concentration of the sample.

The kits have been approved and tested by the U.S. Department of Defense, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense and the German Bundeswehr. HAZMAT teams and first responders throughout the U.S. have used the TS-10-5 detection kits and testify to its accuracy.

Other highlights include: results in as little as three minutes with no additional equipment or readers, a shelf life of two years, and the lowest cost per test. ♦