Phase 1 Testing of Bioflash Technology for White Powder Identification

Phase I proof-of-concept testing of a mock-up of the cellular analysis and notification of antigen risks and yields (CANARY) bioagent-identification system was conducted at the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center. This testing was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate in support of the TechSolutions Program, which seeks to rapidly address technology gaps identified by First Responders. The mock-up was based on the CANARY technology developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory. The two main objectives of this testing were (1) to determine the limit of detection for the test bed system for powdered spores of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus subtilis, and (2) to determine if common nonhazardous white powders trigger a false positive response or subsequently interfere with the ability of the system to detect real agents. The findings are summarized as follows: (1) the powder collection apparatus was used to successfully collect the powdered samples into the testing discs; (2) low levels of known agent were consistently detected with the system; and (3) some of the nonhazardous white powders yielded unexpected results because the white powders interfered with the detection system.