Research Highlights

Technology Performance Summary: Truetech M272 Water Kit for Chemical Warfare Agents

All Hazards Receipt Facilities (AHRFs) were developed to prescreen for chemical, radiochemical, and explosive hazards in samples collected during suspected terrorist attacks. The technologies used in AHRFs are intended to screen samples prior to a full analysis, helping protect responders, laboratory workers, and others from potential injury.

Evaluations of these technologies are summarized in the technology evaluation report, Testing of Screening Technologies for Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents in All Hazards Receipt Facilities.  The chemical warfare agents (CWAs) included in the report were chosen because they might be used during, or develop as a by-product from, a terrorist attack.

The screening technologies are intended:

• To be rapid and qualitative
• To be simple to use and of relatively low cost
• To indicate if samples contain hazardous chemicals of concern.

Not all of the technologies evaluated were deemed suitable for the AHRF, although they might be useful for responders on the scene.

Technology Evaluated: Truetech M272 Water Kit

Sample Types Evaluated for Indication of: Nerve agents sarin and VX in liquid

Conclusions:
The Truetech M272 Water Kit:

• Reliably detected sarin and VX challenge samples in deionized (DI) water, with and without a hydrocarbon interferent.
• Detected sarin and VX in the isopropyl alcohol (IPA) samples, but also gave a positive response to the blank solvent.
• Responded within minutes.
• Uses a simple procedure of wetting pad with sample and pressing together with a second reagent pad.

Technology Description and Requirements: The technology in this kit is a nerve agent detection ticket based on acetycholinesterase inhibition, designed for water sample screening. The technology uses two reagent pads under a foil covering. To use the ticket, the foil covering is removed and one of the reagent pads is wetted with the sample and then pressed against the second reagent pad. A white color on the first pad indicates the presence of a nerve agent; a blue color indicates no agent is present.

Testing Methodology and Results: Stock solutions of sarin, sulfur mustard, and VX were diluted in IPA or DI water to make the samples. The detection device was tested with three blank samples of the solvent used (IPA or DI water), and three samples of the test solution containing the CWA. If the instrument detected the CWA in at least one of the three tests with pure solvent, then the challenge was repeated with a hydrocarbon mixture interferent (1% of the total volume) added to both the
blank and the CWA samples. The Truetech M272 Water Kit color tickets were tested by wetting
the appropriate reagent pad with the liquid sample. All liquid sample testing was conducted at
room temperature with 50% relative humidity.

Table 1: Summary of Truetech M272 Water Kit Test Results

Contact: Eric Koglin

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