CBRNE Analysis and Testing
ECBC provides the sampling, analysis and testing support required by the Army, Department of Defense and other government agencies related to the detection and identification of a variety of highly toxic compounds in all types of matrices. All sampling, analysis and testing work is performed in accordance with an ISO-certified quality management system and in surety and non-surety environments. ECBC is specifically named in DoD planning guidance as the source of sampling and analysis support to demonstrate DoD compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). ECBC also provides training and expert consultation services. ECBC also provides full service CB testing to support DoD acquisition programs and commercial off-the-shelf product characterization.
Expertise and/or capabilities:
Screening of Unknown Chemicals | Attributional Forensics | Sampling & Analysis Method Development | Environmental Monitoring
Full Service CBRNE Testing | Laboratory Networks: DENIX; ERLN; WLA; FERN
Latest News:
ECBC Helps Improve Chemical Detectors through M3TD Program
In 2012, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) participated in a Multi-Mission Multi-Threat Detection (M3TD) program —one that will benefit the warfighter by improving the performance of chemical agent detectors.
Funded by the Joint Project Manager for Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Contamination Avoidance (JPM NBC CA), the M3TD program provides multiple chemical agent detector companies an opportunity to utilize ECBC expertise and laboratories to test their detectors against a broad range of chemical challenges. It also helps improve the industrial knowledge base and assess the technical maturity of systems designed to detect and identify chemical warfare agents and emerging threat compounds. The M3TD program supports the Analysis of Alternative for the Next Generation Chemical Detector (NGCD), and will assist in NGCD’s goal of improving upon the detection and identification of emerging threats.
“The M3TD program provides an opportunity for a large number of companies that develop chemical agent detectors to enhance their technical knowledge base, and update and improve their technologies toward emerging threats,” said ECBC chemist Roderick Fry.
The program was a multi-directorate effort within ECBC, and required cooperation amongst the Center’s Engineering (ENG), Program Integration (DPI) and Research and Technology (R&T) directorates. For example, detector expertise and laboratory operations were provided by the ENG and R&T Directorates; technical reach back to R&T was required for the basic science and technology data on emerging threat compounds; R&T’s Technology Evaluation Branch was the independent evaluator/assessor for the testing;and DPI was heavily involved in safety, surety, security and environmental support leading up to the testing phases of the program.
Nineteen different detectors were purchased by JPM NBC CA from 16 different companies that are participating in the M3TD program. The program has two test phases—data collection and technology assessment. After ECBC completes the data collection phase in 4Q FY12, the companies that developed the detectors will have the opportunity to add the data to their detector libraries and improve their algorithms to better identify a broad spectrum of threats. The detectors will then be evaluated by JPM NBC CA for technical and performance maturity in the technology assessment phase of the program.
Test Division Branches Increase Efficiency for Customers
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center’s (ECBC) Permeation and Analytical Solutions Branch (PASB), Protective Equipment Test Branch (PETB) and Test, Reliability and Evaluation Branch (TREB) have teamed up to create a process to reduce costs for their customers.
“These three test branches are coming together to build one repository of information and become a one-stop shop for [ECBC] customers,” said Brian MacIver, PASB branch chief.
The idea for this teamwork came in 2010 when the Tank Automotive Command -funded Joint Equipment Assessment Program, now called Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical Biological Defense Enterprise Fielding & Surveillance (JEFS) Directorate, customer approached the three Engineering Directorate test branches for support, and at which time there was no established method for collecting and co-locating data that could be quickly accessed to ensure systems were working correctly and data was accurate. Given this, the branches embarked on a plan to make it easier for the customer to establish procedures, deliver test items and obtain data.
Today, the branches now share detailed information about project progress via the Center’s intranet—CBConnect. Workbooks are also being created internally to evolve data processing, so that thousands of data points can be systematically sorted to give the operator quick reference on whether systems are functioning properly.
In order for the process to be successful, a structure incorporating skill sets from the different branches was also established in which an overarching branch chief will oversee the entire process and a test administrator will add uniformity to the data being entered.
Additionally, the branches continually assess and upgrade infrastructure to provide new test capability. For example, the PETB has added new chemical fume hoods and upgraded carbon test fixtures to handle a variety of new chemical compounds, including toxic industrial chemicals and materials. “These new testing systems will allow us to…increase our accuracy and test capacity,” said Jonathan Grzeika, a chemist with PETB.
The focus is to increase the customer base by being more competitive through responsiveness; being more competitive means reducing costs to the customer and maintaining the precision and quality of the product.
“Working together will provide a consolidated analysis training program, drive down costs, provide timely and uniform reporting and increase our efficiencies,” MacIver concluded.
