Anthrax Smoke Detector

 
 

A fully automated anthrax smoke detector (ASD) has been developed and tested. The ASD is intended to serve as a cost effective front-end monitor for anthrax surveillance systems. The principle of operation is based on measuring airborne endospore concentrations, where a sharp concentration increase signals an anthrax attack. The ASD features an air sampler, a thermal lysis unit, a syringe pump, a time-gated spectrometer, and endospore detection chemistry comprised of dipicolinic acid (DPA)-triggered terbium (Tb3+) luminescence. Anthrax attacks were simulated using aerosolized Bacillus atrophaeus spores in fumed silica, and the

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publications

An automated front-end monitor for anthrax surveillance systems based on the rapid detection of airborne endospores.  Yung, P.T.; Lester, E.D.; Bearman, G., Ponce, A.  Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2007, 98(4), 864-871. [PDF]


A second-generation anthrax "smoke detector": An inexpensive front-end monitor that detects airborne bacterial spores.  Lester, E.D.; Bearman, G.; Ponce, A.  IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology, 2004, 23 (1), 130-135. [PDF]


An anthrax smoke detector: Online detection of aerosolized bacterial spores.  Lester, E.D.; Ponce, A.  IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology: Special Biodefense Issue, 2002, 21 (5), 38-42. [PDF]


corresponding Tb-DPA intensities were monitored as a function of time and correlated to the number of airborne endospores collected. A concentration dependence of 102-106 spores/mg of fumed silica yielded a dynamic range of 4 orders of magnitude and a limit of detection of 16 spores/L when 250 L of air were sampled. Simulated attacks were detected in less than 15 min.