Since 2007, the U.S. Army’s Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) has performed an annual Market Survey, creating a comprehensive guide to hundreds of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) detection and identification devices.
The size the hard copy book and digital file became increasingly cumbersome as the number of included systems grew beyond 400 detectors, prompting ECBC to invest in an interactive, searchable online version, called the WMD Detector Selector.
A device is evaluated utilizing a weighted model based on 99 different questions, from size and battery life to sensitivity and time to detection. The results are available for download from CBRN Library and posted to the WMD Detector Selector website where after checking a few boxes about the potential use of the device, results are posted in order of relevance, easing the decision making-process and providing information to the people who need it most and fast.
The interactive database gives the survey a greater size and complexity with searchable functions. Users can learn more about detectors through answering simple fields such as scenario use, type of detector, size, diagnostic approval and more.
“Recently, a number of similar databases have been released, but the size and methodology we employ make this a superior product in every way. Since this is now an app inside of the Biosurveillance Portal, it will be sustained as it is associated with a Program of Record,” said Peter Emanuel, Ph.D., Market Survey creator and ECBC Biosciences Division Chief.