Anthrax Detection Technology Under Development

Researchers in the US are working on new, fast-acting bacterial agent detection technology that's both automatic and potentially portable, too.

The device, produced through a joint venture between New York's Cornell University and the University of Albany's CNSE (College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering) division, can pick on the presence of anthrax in 15 minutes, according to reports.

When presented with a contaminated sample, it can apparently pick out the bacteria when present in extremely small concentrations - down to 40 minute cells - and, as per information on the technology published in the International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, it incorporates advanced nano material-based fluidic cartridges.

Once a sample of the material to be tested has been manually placed on the anthrax detection technology, the machine does the rest, making the process almost entirely automatic.

Anthrax, formally known as Bacillus anthracis, is a microbe with the power to kill. As a component of biological warfare, it can be used by insurgent forces to infect subjects, potentially through inhalation or ingestion (i.e. when it's present in food samples or water supplies).

Known as a ‘lab-on-a-chip' device, the new anthrax detector features sample and reagent inputs and carries out DNA purification measures.

"The average time required for DNA purification during these experiments was approximately 15 minutes, and when combined with real-time PCR analysis, this resulted in an average time to detection of 60 minutes", the researchers explained, adding: "Due to its small size and low power requirements, this system can be further developed as a truly portable, hand-held device".

Almost a decade ago, the US experienced a series of anthrax attacks, in which contaminated letters were sent, with the result that five people died and 17 more were infected.

As per a statement made by CNSE, should an attack occur, anthrax detection measures are vital if high fatality levels are to be avoided.

Image copyright US Marine Corps

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Companies supplying Chemical and Biological Decontamination

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Automated Biometric Identification System Development

Aerospace and defence firm Northrop Grumman has been chosen to progress an advanced biometric security programme for the US military.

The DOD-ABIS (Department of Defense Automated Biometric Identification System) allows members of the US armed forces to rapidly identify individuals deemed threatening to the preservation of US security.

Having developed DoD-ABIS five years ago, Northrop Grumman will now essentially maintain and re-develop it through a new $141m contract that also involves a raft of other firms including Booz Allen Hamilton Inc,, SAIC Inc., Six3 Systems Inc., SRA International Inc. and E&M Technologies Inc.

This will potentially give US warfighters an even more effective tool in the international fight against terrorism and other 21st century threats.

The Automated Biometric Identification System lies at the heart of the US Defense Department's biometric identification programme. It's a multi-model system, in the sense it carries out face scans, fingerprint scans, iris scans and palm scans on threatening or potentially-threatening subjects.

DoD-ABIS is compatible with other elements of US national security, such as IAFIS - the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System used by the FBI - and it can be accessed from any part of the globe.

According to a new Northrop Grumman press release, the progressional order that's now been placed will see the firm assume ‘primary development responsibility of DoD-ABIS including program management, systems engineering, software development, integration, training, disaster recovery, case management, system sustainment, scalability and interoperability'.

"DoD-ABIS is a proven multimodal biometric enterprise system that is helping to protect the lives of the warfighter and personnel assigned to U.S. bases worldwide", Northrop Grumman representative Alan Leckenby stated in the firm's DoD-ABIS development order press release.

"Northrop Grumman's broad expertise developing and fielding advanced biometrics applications across defense, civilian and law enforcement environments will be a critical asset to the Defense Department as it maintains its position as a leader and early adopter of multi-modal biometric technologies."

The data acquired by DoD-ABIS is used not only by US military personnel, but also by members of other US organisations. Look out for further coverage of this system in future Security Technology News Items.

Image copyright Northrop Grumman

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Companies supplying Biometrics

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