DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

File: 123096_sep96_decls1_0090.txt
Page: 0090
Total Pages: 109

Subject: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS       

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003203

Folder Title: DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS                                       

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         21












                                                        NATO UNCLASSIFIED


                                                            CHAPTER 7


                                                   METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR

                                                     DETECTION AND SAMPLING



                      GENERAL

                      701.    The following presentation is limited to the consideration of aerosol
                      attacks. The term "detection" is, in this context. defined as the
                      demonstration of abnormal amounts or types of microorganisms and toxins in the
                      air. The aim of a defence system is to prevent or reduce the effects of an
                      attack  by a biological agent. The most important requirements for a detection
                      system  are rapidity and sensitivity.

                              a. Rapidity - It is evident that the defender's situation will
                              deteriorate rapidly following an effective attack. Unless the
                              detection system is able to record the attack within a very short time,
                              there will be no meaning in the term "early warning". It is generally
                              accepted, that in order to be of any real value, a detection system
                              must produce an alarm within minutes.

                              b. Sensitivity - The problem involves the detection of extremely small
                              amounts of material. At the present stage of technological development
                              it may be necessary to accept a relatively low degree of specificity in
                              order to attain the required level of sensitivity.        Intensive work is
                              going on in many laboratories with the objective of perfecting existing
rom the
                              following that the problems of detection are associated both with
                              sampling @ with identification. Possibilities exist for a
                              combination of detection and identification in one technical procedure.

                                                        DETECTION METHODS

                      TECH14OLOGY

                      702.    Detection technology rests on basic knowledge and research in
                      acrobiclogy. Of particular importance are studies concerning the decay and
                      viability of microorganisms suspended in aerosols, the effects of protective
                      substances, and the collection of organisms from aerosols in detection or
                      sampling devices. It is known that the infective dose by inhalation is
                      strongly dependent on particle size of the aerosol. Only particles Of
                      approximately I*to 5 microns (u) in diameter are able Lo reach and be retained
                      in the lower respiratory tract and detection techniques mat take this into
                      consideration. It is also critical to distinguish between aerosolised
                      microorganisms or toxins as distinguished from other types of particulate
                      matter. At present, the quickest way of making this distinction for
                      microorganisms is to demonstrate the ability of organisms to divide when
                      incubated on nutrient media, but this procedure is obviously much too slow.



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Document 109 f:/Week-36/BX003203/DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS/detection of medical defense against biological :1217960927452
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
Folder Seq # = 21
Subject = DETECTION OF MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 17-DEC-1996