Proceedings of the Public Security S&T Summer Symposium 2009

CRTI 05-0123TD

All Hazards Sample Receiving and Storage Capability

Project Lead: DRDC Suffield

Federal Partners: Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, DRDC Ottawa

Other Partners: Toronto Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Emergency Management Services, Centre of Forensic Sciences, Department of Homeland Security, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center

Objectives

Responders are often called upon to handle samples of unknown composition. Although such samples are often subjected to on-site field screening tests, certified personnel within accredited laboratories must definitively identify the materials. To protect their facilities and personnel, gold standard laboratories will only accept certain classes of hazards. Thus, samples must be triaged. Currently, there are no triage facilities within Canada for all-hazards materials. This project will deliver the capability for an all-hazards sample receiving facility and the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and equipment to be used within it. A prototype facility will also be constructed, equipped, and demonstrated at DRDC Suffield.

The project team’s work is divided into six phases: developing a list of specialized laboratory equipment and instruments for the facility; developing the technical specifications for the facility; developing SOPs for the facility; procuring specialized laboratory equipment for the facility; constructing and installing the facility; and demonstrating the facility complete with all its equipment and instrumentation.

The development of the specialized equipment list and technical specifications will involve consultation with several end-user support groups (both laboratory workers and first responders) to ensure their needs are met. When the specifications for the equipment and facility are completed, work will begin on developing the SOPs for receiving samples (i.e., packaging requirements), processing samples (equipment and technique-based protocols), decontaminating samples, if necessary, and forwarding samples to the appropriate laboratory for confirmatory analysis. In parallel to the above processes, procurement of the equipment for the facility will be ongoing. Finally, the facility will be demonstrated in an international exercise involving several first responder groups. The entire project is envisioned to take approximately three years.

Relevance

This project will provide Canada with a more efficient response by ensuring that samples are quickly and properly triaged and directed to the appropriate analytical facilities, while ensuring the safety of the facilities and laboratory personnel. Establishing validated, forensically sound SOPs, using standardized equipment, and providing storage for contaminated material will ensure that the integrity of any investigation is preserved.

Recent Progress and Results

The project team has identified the type of analysis that will be performed in the facility, as well as the specialized and generic equipment required. Equipment procurement is ongoing with approximately 90 percent of this task already completed.

This past year, the project charter was successfully reprofiled to modify timelines, money, and to add partners from the United States (US). Concurrently, a cooperative activity agreement has been signed for the project under the Public Security Technical Program (PSTP) to allow for collaboration between DRDC Suffield, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the US Army’s Forensic Analytical Center’s Mobile Laboratory and Kits Team at Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center (ECBC) in Aberdeen, Maryland. With DHS’ funding, the ECBC has recently constructed three All-Hazards Receipt Facilities (AHRFs) similar to the facility defined in this project’s objective. The AHRFs are mobile and modular platforms designed to ensure safe in-processing and pre-screening and accurate assessment of samples of unknown or dubious origin that may contain chemical, biological, radiological, highly-explosive residue, or toxic industrial materials. This design precludes contamination of the sample, the operator, the facility, and the environment while meeting the public health needs and the requirements of the law by protecting forensic evidence. The system integrates primary and secondary containment (Biological Safety Level (BSL) 2 and BSL-3 along with chemical filtration) with robust analytical methodology that provides a fail-safe system for unknown materials assessment. This project is the first stage to successfully transfer money under PSTP.

In addition, collaborative efforts have been initiated with the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia to explore the development of international standards for sample screenings. The UK has a similar capability already established in their National Network of Laboratories (NNL). Australia, through the New South Wales Police, is establishing its capability. The NNL is much more defined with five facilities in place and operational, allowing effective screening of samples and transition from the field to the downstream analytical laboratory. A similar capability is desired in Canada.

Impact

Currently, Canada does not have an all-hazards sample receiving and storage facility, and responders and analytical laboratories alike have identified this gap. Working closely with international partners, the project team will develop a prototype facility that will serve as the basis for the operation of similar facilities elsewhere in Canada. The development of facilities that allow samples and other hazardous materials, regardless of their nature, to be received, triaged, documented, sampled, and stored in a standardized, forensically sound fashion will have a major impact on investigations involving CBRNE materials, unknowns, and mixed threat materials.

Author:

Scott Holowachuk, DRDC Suffield, scott.holowachuk@drdc-rddc.gc.ca

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