NCJ Number
190333
Date Published
October 1999
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This document describes a test assessing the capability of the Photovac MicroFID to detect chemical warfare (CW) vapors.
Abstract
The agents used were Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB), and Mustard (HD), those most likely to be used as CW agents. One goal was to determine the minimum concentration levels (Minimum Detectable Level, MDL) for each agent where repeatable detection readings would be achieved using Joint Services Operational Requirements (JSOR) as a guide for MDL objectives. Other goals were to determine the Response Factors (RF) for each CW agent at ambient temperature and low relative humidity (RH); to investigate the effects of humidity and temperature upon the detector response; and to observe the effects of potential interference vapors upon detector performance, in the laboratory and in the field. Results were that the CW agent challenges to the Photovac MicroFID Handlheld Flame Ionization Detector showed that they were not sensitive enough to detect CW agents at concentrations with an order of magnitude of the JSOR levels for any of the conditions tested. The MicroFID in its current configuration cannot be used effectively for CW agent detection. Recalibration checks clearly suggested that the detector sensitivity was not degraded by exposure to CW agent vapor, as methane detection capability was nearly constant. Methane detection responses also did not appear to be affected by relative humidity changes. However, CW agent detection at varied humidity conditions showed gross variance. Testing was discontinued after the ambient temperature agent sensitivity tests based on the test results that indicated poor performance toward CW agent detection.