The disclosure provides for a system and method for detecting a threat agent. A sample is illuminated to produce photons Raman scattered and emitted by the sample. The Raman scattered photons are collected using time-gated detection without collecting the emitted photons. A Raman spectroscopic data set is generated from said Raman scattered photons wherein said Raman spectroscopic data comprises at least one of a Raman spectrum and a Raman chemical image. The Raman spectroscopic data is assessed to thereby determine the presence or absence of a threat agent in the sample. The sample may be in a target area. The sample may be illuminated using a pulsed laser or an intensity modulated laser. The illumination source may be synchronized with a gating element that enables time-gated detection.
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