In short
Sciensano wants to increase the pipeline of available lab analysis methods to improve the identification of the various chemical and biological compounds that can be implied in an acute CBRNe incident, deliberate or not. CBRNe incidents involve chemical, biological, radiological and/or nuclear agents, eventually dispersed through explosives.
The analytical technique used in this project is mass spectrometry, which uses very accurate mass measurements of the molecules to identify and quantify them.
Project description
Sciensano provides its expertise in mass spectrometry (MS) analysis for the identification of many biologicals toxins, pesticides and drugs. These methods are already in application for food, feed and drugs control, but can be also relevant for acute CBRNe incidents. However, this type of incidents can involve much larger quantities and unusual matrices. Mass spectrometry methods must thus be transferred, extended and validated to verify the presence of suspected compounds in a variety of samples and matrices, also considering clinical samples, and this always in a secure manner.
Main outcomes include:
- Transfer, development and validation of targeted MS methods in a CBRN context
- Development and validation of screening MS methods in a CBRN context
- Gap analysis for chemical risk lab analysis in a CBRN context on a national level
