Research Highlights

Technology Performance Summary: Anachemia CM256A1 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: Anachemia CM256A1 Kit

Sample Types Evaluated for Indication of:

• Sarin and sulfur mustard in vapor using multifunction card
• Nerve agents sarin and VX and sulfur mustard in liquid using 3-way paper
• VX on surface using 3-way paper

Conclusions:
The Anachemia CM256A1:

• Multifunction card failed to reliably detect sarin or sulfur mustard in vapor.
• 3-way paper failed to detect sarin, sulfur mustard, or VX in any liquid samples.
• 3-way paper reliably detected VX on surface (i.e., 100% accuracy). Note that the 3-way
  papers showed a pink color for blank test coupons spiked with a hydrocarbon mixture interferent; however, when VX was present, the 3-way papers showed a dark green color.
• 3-way paper response time occurred in seconds; color change within 5 seconds
  (simple procedure).

Technology Description and Requirements: Colorimetric paper and multifunction reagent card. This kit includes two CWA screening technologies. The 3-way paper indicates CWAs by means of a color change. The multifunction card employs reagents placed in selected locations. Each card can indicate the presence of vapor phase CWAs by the performance of a series of about 15 sequential steps and manipulations.

Testing Methodology and Results: Vapor Phase Testing – Testing was conducted on one CWA at a time. The tested gases were generated by diluting a commercially obtained compressed gas standard. To evaluate the instrument, a flow of clean air passed through a clean air plenum, and an equal flow of air containing the tested gas passed through another plenum: the challenge plenum. The instrument was connected to a 4-way valve through which clean air, or the tested gas, flowed before being vented into a chemical laboratory hood. The instrument was first exposed to the clean air flow. After this, the 4-way valve was switched to the challenge plenum to deliver the tested CWA gas. The sequence of exposure to clean air, followed by exposure to the CWA gas, was carried out three times in succession for the instrument. This sequence was followed for each CWA and each test condition identified in Table 1. For this evaluation, a hydrocarbon mixture interferent was added to the blank and to the CWA gas at a ratio of 1:100 interferent mix to air flow.

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. All liquid sample testing was conducted at room temperature with 50% relative humidity. Testing of the 3-way paper involved applying a drop of the liquid sample to the paper.

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 evaluation of the 3-way paper was conducted by pressing the paper onto the test sample and inspecting for color change.

Table 1: Summary of Anachemia CM256A1 Kit 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.
^cAEGL = Acute Exposure Guide Level; LD₅₀ = Lethal dose to half the population; and RDT&E = Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Standards (Chemical Surety, Chapter 6: Army Regulation 50-6, 26 June 2001).

Contact: Eric Koglin

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