A New Approach to Trace Detection

Today’s emergency responders and security personnel need detection capabilities which address both categories with high sensitivity (the ability to detect threat materials below harmful levels) and high fidelity (the ability to detect reproducibly and reliably).

Download Resource

Trace detection of hazardous materials, especially in light of the opioid epidemic and emerging threats like Novichoks, requires highly sensitive and reliable tools to detect both “invisible” (extremely small quantities) and “hidden” (small amounts mixed with larger, non-hazardous substances) threats. Current detection methods, such as ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), and optical techniques, face limitations in sensitivity, specificity, and operational efficiency. High-pressure mass spectrometry (HPMS), particularly the MX908 device, overcomes these limitations by offering both high sensitivity and fidelity, capable of detecting substances at concentrations as low as 20 nanograms. The HPMS’s ability to generate mass spectral images allows for accurate identification and differentiation of chemicals, even in complex mixtures, and it can detect novel chemical threats using predictive algorithms. The MX908 combines the benefits of both trace and bulk detection, providing a powerful tool for emergency responders to handle the increasing variety of chemical hazards confidently and quickly.