Detection paper, nerve agents

M9 Chemical Detection Paper A self-adhesive paper that can be readily attached to the body or to vehicles, shelters, and other equipment. It cannot distinguish the identity of agents. The agent sensitive dye will turn red upon contact with liquid nerve agents (G and V) and blister agents (H and L). The paper produces colored spots when in contact with nerve and blister agents. 

In a recent series of papers, Nassar et al. demonstrated the utility of indirect UV-absorbance detection for environmental samples. In their first study, samples were collected from an area known to have been exposed to nerve agents and subsequently cleaned up (16). Using the same buffer system as described above (Section 3.1.2), MPA, IMPA, and PMPA were detected in soil and surface wipe leachates. Interference from common anions was minimal, likely owing to the acidic buffer conditions employed (pH 4), which can keep weak acids such as carboxylic acids and carbonic acid primarily in their protonated form. Further, interference from fluoride may have been reduced as it is known to adsorb to the capillary surface at low pH. 

This paper will review the known metabolic pathways of CW agents, excretion profiles where these have been measured, and methods for the analysis of metabolites in urine or blood. Examples are provided of detection in cases of human exposure. The review focuses mainly on sulfur mustard and nerve agents that represent the greatest global CW threat, and for which most analytical methods have been developed. 

Liquids "G" series Nerve Agents can be detected by M8 and M9 papers. 

Nerve Agent Liquid Can be detected by M8 and M9 papers. Component Liquid/Vapor Currently there is no field system employed by the U.S. Military that is designed to detect Binary Nerve Agent Components. 

Early CWA detectors were quite primitive and included primarily chemical-reactive dyes in paints. These were insensitive and therefore unreliable (Smart, 1997). Later technology used more sensitive chemical dyes in other formats such as paper tickets. Modem detectors now consist of fieldable IR spectrometers and an alarm system designed to warn of the presence of CWAs on the battlefield or in an enclosed space. Several rehable tests for the diagnosis of CWA exposure have been developed. To detect HD exposure, the level of thiodiglycol, a metabolite of HD, is quantitated in the urine using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analytical method (Jakubowski et al., 1990 TB MED 296, 1996). Nerve agent exposure is detected in the field by the use of a fieldable Ellman assay to determine chohnesterase inhibition in the blood (Ellman et al., 1961 TB MED 296, 1996). 

M8 and M9 detection papers provide a rapid, inexpensive test for the presence of liquid mustard or nerve agents. Use of the paper should be as a screening test only because of the paper s propensity to show false positive results. Ealse positive results for the presence of a CW agent in a civilian community could produce hysteria and panic. 

Information on detection of "GV" series Nerve Agents is not available. However, based on their similarity to "G" and "V" series agents, it is likely that agent vapor can be detected by the M256A1 Kit and that liquid agents can be detected by M8 and M9 papers. 

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