Research Highlights

Technology Performance Summary: Safety Solutions
HazMat Smart-M8^® 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: Safety Solutions HazMat Smart-M8®

Sample Types Evaluated for Indication of:

• Nerve agents sarin and VX, and sulfur mustard in liquid
• VX on surface

Conclusions:
The HazMat Smart-M8^®:

• Failed to detect sarin, VX, and sulfur mustard in any of the liquid phase testing.
• Reliably detected VX in all surface testing challenges. However, at the base + interferent condition, the Smart-M8^® showed a pink color when challenged with blank test coupons; this was different from the dark green color shown when VX was also present. Base conditions are defined in Table 1, footnote b.
• Responded (provides a color change) within seconds of exposure.
• Uses a relatively simple procedure.

Technology Description and Requirements: Colorimetric indicator. The Smart-M8^® is a badge that may be clipped to a person’s clothes, and consists of a piece of indicating paper in a cardboard frame.

Testing Methodology and Results: Liquid Sample Testing – Stock solutions of sarin, sulfur mustard, and VX were diluted in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or deionized (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. Table 1 lists the CWAs tested, the concentrations used and the basis for those concentrations. The HazMat Smart-M8^® was tested by applying a drop of the liquid sample to the test paper. All liquid sample testing was conducted at room temperature with 50% relative humidity.

Surface Sample Testing – Glass slides served as the test surfaces. Samples were prepared by spiking 1 mg of neat VX on each glass slide to produce a surface loading of approximately 0.2 mg/cm². Test coupons were spiked in the morning of each test day and used immediately after spiking. Each test used three blank glass coupons and three glass coupons spiked with VX at room temperature and approximately 50% relative humidity. Interference tests were conducted by spiking approximately 1 mg of a hydrocarbon mixture per coupon onto both blank and VX-spiked coupons. The blank and spiked coupon tests were repeated at the same low and high temperature and relative humidity conditions used for the CWA vapor testing (defined in Table 1, footnote b). The HazMat Smart-M8^® was tested by pressing the paper onto the test sample and inspecting the paper for a color change.

Table 1: Summary of Safety Solutions HazMat Smart-M8^® Test Results

^aA hydrocarbon mixture was used as the interferent.
^bTemperature and relative humidity conditions for vapor tests were: Base = 20 °C and 50% relative humidity, Low = 10 °C and 20% relative humidity, and High = 30 °C and 80% relative humidity. DI water or IPA was used as the solvent in the liquid test.
^cRDT&E = Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Standards (Chemical Surety, Chapter 6: Army Regulation 50-6, 26 June 2001) and LD₅₀ = Lethal dose to half the population.

Contact: Eric Koglin

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