Prime Alert BIOLOGICAL THREAT DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

Feature Overview
- On-site results in minutes

- Easy to use, versatile test kits

- Highly accurate, broad spectrum analysis

- Detects the presence of potentially hazardous biological microbes and biotoxins

- Rugged, portable, and disinfectable

- Orthogonal technology for the highest accuracy in field testing

Prime Alert is a field-proven, portable biohazard detection system that scans powder samples of unknown origin for suspicious levels of all types of microbes and major biotoxins.

Prime Alert consists of a palm-sized reader (fluorometer) and 5 individual sampling kits. The Microbe Screen is designed to detect significant numbers of bacteria, bacterial spores, and most viruses. The Toxin Screen identifies ricin, botulinum toxin, and staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

Developed with the help of first responders and law enforcement agencies, the system has been widely used around the world. It includes all the samplers needed to quickly identify potential biological threats in the field.

When potentially hazardous powdered substances are detected, the use of the Prime Alert device (a combination of LATE PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared) technologies gives first responders the highest level of confidence in the accuracy of the result during field testing, providing all the important information needed to ensure public safety.

The manufacturer offers first-class service, training, and assistance to ensure optimal performance of the Prime Alert device.

The Microbe Screen is designed to detect significant presence of microbes of the following diseases:

- Anthrax

- Plague

- Tularemia

- Brucellosis

- Salmonellosis

- Cholera

- Typhoid

- Q Fever

- Psittacosis

- Glanders

- False Glanders

- New Bacterial Weapons

The Toxin Screen detects the presence of 3 key biological toxins:

- Ricin

- Botulinum Toxin

- Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B

Smiths Detection is a global leader in advanced security solutions and government-regulated products for the detection and identification of chemical, biological, radiological, and explosive threats, as well as other hazardous or prohibited substances.

Smiths Detection is the sole worldwide distributor of the Prime Alert device. Prime Alert is manufactured by GenPrime, Inc., a leading provider of advanced testing technologies.

General technical characteristics

Weight of the system in the case: 5.4 kg.

Reader

Size

18 x 4 x 9 cm (7.1 x 1.6 x 3.5 in)

Weight

425 g (15 oz)

Power

6V 0.3W (4 x 1.5 V AAA batteries)

Germ tester

Technology

DNA-selective fluorescent dye technology

Size

8 x 12 x 3 cm (3.2 x 4.8 x 1.2 in) for stand-alone germ testers

Weight

80 g (3 oz) for stand-alone germ testers

Power

Battery-powered reader (fluorometer)

Specificity

All bacteria and bacterial spores and many viruses

Sensitivity

1.1 x 105 to 2.2 x 106 CFU/mg depending on species

Calibration requirements

Manual calibration in less than 2 minutes

Response time

5 minutes, from sample collection to data display

Confidence interval of sensitivity

98%

False positive rate

4%

False negative rate

0% at detection threshold

Toxin tester

Technology

ELISA antibody system

Size

3 x 8 x 0.5 cm (1.2 x 3.2 x 0.2 in) for individual toxin testers

Weight

8 g (0.2 oz) for individual microbe testers

Power

Not applicable

Specificity

Individual tests for ricin, botulinum toxin, and staphylococcal enterotoxin B

Sensitivity

Ricin – (166 ng/ml)

Botulinum toxin A – (166 ng/ml)

Botulinum toxin B – (3333 ng/ml)

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B - (166 ng/ml)

Calibration requirements

not applicable

Response time

10 minutes

Confidence interval of sensitivity

99 %

Number of false positives

1 %

Number of false negatives

0% at the sensitivity threshold

Included in the case:

-reader (with 4 batteries)

-test tube holder

-calibration standard

-verification standard

-instructions for use

-5 sets of testers (the set contains microbe testers, toxin testers, a measuring spoon and a spatula).
See also