System and method of aerosolized agent capture and detection

Abstract

System and method of aerosolized agent detection. Multi-part collection tape is employed for capturing particles of interest for immediate analysis and optional forensic preservation and recording information related to capture and subsequent real-time analysis. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopic processing is employed and spectra attributable to known collection tape materials is subtracted to derive particle spectra for comparison to known hazardous agent spectra.

1 . For use with an aerosolized agent detector providing a particle stream for analysis, a vaporizing real-time analyzer, and an encoder for storing data relative to the fluid samples collection and analysis, a sample capture tape, comprising: 
 a vaporizable first collecting portion designed to collect for immediate analysis selected particles from an aerosol stream potentially containing aerosolized agents;    a second collecting portion designed to collect for preservation selected particles from the aerosol stream; and    a magnetic portion providing storage of information related to the capture and analysis of the aerosol stream.    
   
   
       2 . The sample capture tape of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a preservation portion providing a sterile enclosure for particles collected on the second collecting portion.