Simulated Field Trials Using an Indoor Aerosol Test Chamber

摘要

As new and innovative methods are developed for detecting aerosolized biological weapons, these detectors must also be tested for accuracy, sensitivity and reliability. It is essential that these biological triggers are thoroughly tested before progressing to field testing as field trials are costly and time consuming. A method for testing a Fluorescent Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (FL/APS), a biological trigger detector, with rapid turn around time was developed using a small, 12 m3 aerosol test chamber. In this method, the aerosol chamber control software manipulates circulation fan speeds, chamber vacuum and agent spray times to produce a simulated dynamic cloud within the aerosol test chamber. This dynamic cloud mimics a deployed aerosolized biological weapon in the field with the leading edge, passing and tail end of the cloud. This method was developed using silicon dioxide to mimic the normal particulate concentration in the air and Bacillus globigii spores to mimic a Bacillus anthracis field release. A slit to agar biological sampler was used as a referee method for determining the agent containing particles per liter of air (ACPLA) during the course of the test. With the development of a dynamic cloud for an aerosol test chamber, it has been demonstrated that it is possible to use an aerosol test chamber as an effective and efficient method for testing biological triggers and has been employed commercially.