Identification of Mid-Spectrum Agents in Sand Samples. Results from the Third NATO International Training Exercise.

摘要

In February 2001, the NATO Land Group 7 subgroup on Sampling and Identification of Biological and Chemical Agents (SIBCA) conducted the third international training exercise on the identification of mid- spectrum agents. The objective of this training exercise was to evaluate the participating national laboratories' ability to identify specific mid-spectrum agents (MSAs) spiked onto sand samples. The compounds were selected from a list of mid- spectrum agents compiled by Canada (host nation) and distributed as unknowns to the laboratories. Six national laboratories, one each from France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the United States, participated in the exercise. The level of identification (provisional, confirmed or unambiguous) obtained by each of the laboratories was determined using the identification criteria for mid- spectrum agents developed by the SIBCA subgroup. All the participating laboratories were able to identify, at the provisional level, Ochratoxin A as the MSA in the first sand sample. Five of the six laboratories were able to identify, at the provisional level, Ile-Ser- Bradykinin as the MSA in the second sand sample. Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden through further experiments were able to identify Ile-Ser-Bradykinin at the unambiguous level. The results from this exercise have revealed areas in which the identification criteria may be improved.