Biological agents ratings

For the detection of slow-acting biological agents (which may not produce symptoms for several days), the system response time would depend on the frequency of sampling and analysis. The frequency of sampling and analysis would be determined by factors such as the cost of the assay, the frequency with which critical reagents need to be replaced, the robustness of the detector, and so on. The minimum response time would be determined by the time required to collect a sample, prepare it for analysis, conduct the assay, and report the results. In the event of an alarm from a detector with a significant false-alarm rate, additional time would be required to determine its validity and to decide on an appropriate response. 

Thus there are two separate and distinct missions of any system designed to detect both chemical and biological weapons, namely Detect to Warn and Detect to Treat. The presence of a chemical agent must be detected immediately in order to warn troops to put on protective gear. Biological agents must be detected and identified promptly in order to minimize the number of exposed troops however, immediate death or incapacitation is not likely. Instead, early detection allows early treatment and lower mortality rates. 

Preparation of an environmental sample for delivery to the sensor and the sample cleanup afterwards are often the rate-limiting steps in the detection of biological agents, as well. Even for biodetection, sample preparation is a chemistry and materials science issue, currently accomplished using membranes and surface-active chemistries, binders, and ligands. Biological sample preparation remains an embryonic field. 

Biological Agents Microorganisms (e.g., bacteria or certain nutrients) added to the water column or soil to increase the rate of biodegradation of contaminants. 

In the case of chemical pesticides, these include factors such as molecular weight and vapor pressure that determine the rate of evaporation into air of the pesticide in an applied material such as paint, or the release from aqueons solntion. In the case of biological agents, these include, for example, pathogenicity to hnmans, allergenicity, infectious dose levels and aerosol particle size distribntion. 

Several compounds have been used in treating chronic viral hepatitis. Experimental and clinical studies have focused on four groups of substances (7.) antiviral agents, (2.) immunostimulants, (i.) molecular biological agents, and 4.) adjuvant medicinal remedies. The rate of spontaneous seroconversion is 8-15%lyear... 

Infectious disease can be produced by any pathogen able to be aerosolized and subsequently transported into the respiratory tract at the appropriate concentration. Some common diseases which may result from airborne transmission in indoor environments are listed in Table 5. The rate of infection within any environment is a function of the viability and virulence of the pathogen, its concentration in the inhaled air, and characteristics, such as droplet size, of the carrier aerosol within which it is contained. Some biological agents produce disease at low concentrations, while others must accumulate to a higher level. Furthermore, individual susceptibility to infection depends on a number of factors, such as age and health, as well as concomitant exposure to chemical pollutants. 

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