Bio-defense: stemming false alarms.
by Williams, Robert H.
* Commercial biological agent detectors tend to give too many false
alarms. And that can be a major headache.
Unnecessary evacuations at airports, sports arenas, train stations
and other large areas where people congregate cost time, money and tend
to foster bad attitudes.
To rectify this problem, scientists at Sandia, Lawrence Livermore,
Oak Ridge and Pacific Northwest national laboratories looked into
bioaerosol detectors--specifically laser induced fluorescence devices.
The upshot is a device that double checks existing sensors. The Enhanced
Bio-aerosol Detection System determines whether once an alarm is sounded
if sufficient dangerous agents are in the air to be a matter of concern.
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Researchers said the piggyback sensor approach will be given a
"real-world" tryout this month at an airport, office building
and large subway system. Test results will be sent to Sandia for
evaluation.
Assuming this approach is validated, the lab will then seek out a
private sector partner to develop the system for widespread use.
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