Accession Number:

ADB113399

Title:

Product Improvement Program to Increase the Nerve Agent Sensitivity of the M256 Chemical Agent Detector Kit

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept. May 1981-Jun 1984

Corporate Author:

CHEMICAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING CENTER ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD

Personal Author(s):

• Eckhaus, Robert

Report Date:

1987-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

37.0

Abstract:

The M256 Chemical Agent Detector Kit detects the presence or absence of nerve, blood, and blister agents in the atmosphere. The kit detects agents at levels where the soldier can safely unmask after a chemical attack. New requirements, however, have been established to detect levels of nerve agent that are below the capability of the M256 kit. Development efforts showed that these lower levels could be detected by replacing the horse enzyme in the M256 kit with the eel enzyme. The test conducted with the product-improved M256E1 kit using eel enzyme as a component of the nerve agent detection system are described in this report. The test showed that the nerve agent sensitivity levels could be lowered to 0.02 mgcu m for VX and 0.005 mgcu m for GB.

Descriptors:

• *CHEMICAL WARFARE
• *DETECTION
• *NERVE AGENTS
• ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE
• ARMY PERSONNEL
• BLOOD
• CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS
• EELS
• ENZYMES
• HORSES
• LEVEL(QUANTITY)
• LOW LEVEL
• REQUIREMENTS
• SENSITIVITY
• VESICANTS

Subject Categories:

• Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warfare

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE