20yrs Biochem defence breakthrough
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Sg has been R&D bio chem defence since 1980's.read below
testing kit called Scentmate & decontaminant Demul-X.Some biological defence breakthroughs were shown to the minister during his visit to
-channel news asia 23.06.2006
DSO National Laboratories on Friday.
DSO National Laboratories is Singapore's main defence R&D organisation.
With the recent surge in terror attacks, it has expanded its scope to areas like chemical and biological defence.
One such home-grown product is a testing kit called Scentmate.
When it comes to bio-attacks, besides the attack itself, emergency medical services get overwhelmed by the ensuing hysteria as people crowd emergency rooms, fearing they've been exposed.
This happened after the sarin gas attack in Tokyo ten years ago.
The prototype system shown can quickly screen mass numbers of suspect cases compared to current systems which need those exposed to have had a prior test.
Dr Loke Weng Keong, Head, Medical Countermeasures - Chemical, DSO National Laboratories, said: " We look at the presence of something else that is inside the blood and we do not need a baseline because of that. This thing does not exist in your body normally and because of this we can do mass screening on site without a reference baseline - we can do 96 people in just half an hour."
The idea behind projects like DSO's is to develop cutting edge solutions not usually commercially available, like the Scentmate Diagnostic kit that will be going for field testing.
It will then work with outside partners to commercialise it.
Another device is the decontaminant Demul-X.
Most commercial options currently tend to target either blister type agents like mustard gas or a chemical agent like sarin.
Demul-X uses a double cylinder which works well against both types of attacks and it'll be commercialised too.
Professor Jayakumar said: "The fight against terrorism does not stop with just government agencies. The fight against terrorism is a total effort - we have to have government agencies working closely together on the one hand. And on the other hand, we also need partners in the private sector, commercial organisations and most importantly, with people at large and community organisations."
Professor S Jayakumar says he is impressed with DSO's efforts. - CNA/ch
2.Stimes 24.06.2006.pg H6.
Instead of spent 16 hours in lab,this kit just take 30 minutes to test 96 persons.what they need is just pin-prick sample of blood,instaed of
pre-measured indicators for comparsions.
3.pl read old posting
VX & Sarin gas---Spore ability in Bio Chem protection
Emeritus Professor Ang How Ghee was one of the main players who set up Singapore's chemical defence capabilities in the 1980s. The 67-year-old drew up the masterplan, linked the country with overseas partners, and trained fledgling scientists in the field.
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Dr Loke Weng Keong, Head, Medical Countermeasures - Chemical, DSO National Laboratories, said: " We look at the presence of something else that is inside the blood and we do not need a baseline because of that. This thing does not exist in your body normally and because of this we can do mass screening on site without a reference baseline - we can do 96 people in just half an hour."
the above information is very vague from this report.... technically it really doesnt make sense...
from the news clip.. it looks like an ELISA method... commonly used by people in virology and immunology.
and without a base line.. how does one rule out false positive due to crossreaction, faulty kit or other causes?
without a base line.. does it means that it can detect all sorts of chemical agent? seems highly incredible...
i think it would be advisable if some virologist or immunologist can be invited to give a second opinion about the above kit... before we stick our life on it. -
the decriptions given by the press are usually vague...Originally posted by tripwire:the above information is very vague from this report.... technically it really doesnt make sense...
from the news clip.. it looks like an ELISA method... commonly used by people in virology and immunology.
and without a base line.. how does one rule out false positive due to crossreaction, faulty kit or other causes?
without a base line.. does it means that it can detect all sorts of chemical agent? seems highly incredible...
i think it would be advisable if some virologist or immunologist can be invited to give a second opinion about the above kit... before we stick our life on it. -
Cannot say too detailed too...because the news article must cater to the masses, not all will understand what is ELISA you see...
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yeah...
once they invented some chip to detect soil disease and dengue fever but the newspaper didn't say how it worked. i had the opportunity to ask this lady scientist working with DSO, and she said that it was DNA microarray technology.
microarray! I didn't even see that word mentioned in that article! -
some of the terms u huys mentioned above are stated in this old postings:
VX & Sarin gas---Spore ability in Bio Chem protection24.05.200520001202 Spore joint Sweden in RD of antidotes.Main project :OBIDOXIME to save from SARIN,TABUN and VX gas.
soil disease also appear.sg hv spent some 20 years.not play play.
H16 to save from SARIN,SOMAN,and VX.The combined of these two can save from all four.pg 16.
19981205 How to extract toxic from animals,by NUS.
1996 New method ELISA can detect MELIOIDOSIS ,BURKHOLDERIA PSEUDOMALLEI,in 3 hours,by NUS.
19990105 DSO devise TOXISPY to detect nerve agent by PHOTOBACTERIA. SULPHURMUSTARD.pg ?
19981203 DSO has breakthroughs in chemical protection.1.Protection cloth for tropical area.2.able to detect toxic in air,soil and water.
.3. destory toxic substances,pg ?
20021202 Detect if a person suffer from nerve gas ,like SARIN,in few minutes,by DSO.pg?.Anthrax.In 1995,Tokyo
MRT gas.In the first hour,500 people rushed to hospital ,10% suffer from toxic gas.Important to find
who really get toxied.
19990703 Spore blue prints to counter Bio,Chem attack --- detection,analysis,and cure.pg 43.Lab can give initial report in 30--60 mins.
Infra red to detect 1 to 5 km any toxic in the air.
20030414 NUH find the gene of MELIOIDOSIS .Know how to cut FLAGELLA of MELIODOSIS. MACROPHAGE.
20010101 NTU condense LAB to a BIOCHIPS to check DNA etc.MICROARRAY CHIPS.MICROFLUIDICS CHIPS.
Time analysis much shorted.
19990715 SURVIVAL 600 to treat water. -
while singapore's research has been admirable... however.. i need to point out a tiny yet important fact...
at lethal dose.. a nerve agent can kill within 3 minute...
in an enclosed underground MRT station... the first line of defence would not be your antidote nor your detection device... both of which would arrive too late to do much except for those who suffered from sub-lethal dose.
if our defence brain up there got any brain... the first line of defence for such an attack on our MRT.. would not be our super kit or super antidote.. which is developed by our labs...
but by installing massive high power exhaust with HEPA and carbon filters to flush the toxic gas out of the station in an instant like a BSC.
DSO should also consider the effect of fire sprinkler in MRT stations as a form of suppression of chemical attacks...
all MRT station exits should have water sprinklers curtain that would limit the spread of the chemical outside the station.
and in the event that the MRT station is contaminated... the first job is to contain the contamination... zone... which would be to evacuate the occupants to a confined restricted area...
the above are just a few of my suggestion. -
the best way to defend MRT from chemical attack is by turning the MRT air circulation system into a positive pressure BSC.. with exhaust grates build into the floor.
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awesome
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dont forget that your contaminated water cant be released into the sewers like that...
by the way, are you student of biology or something? -
i wish i am still a student.. but alas.. i am too old to be still in school... and yes.. i have biology background.. but lets keep it hush hush...Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:dont forget that your contaminated water cant be released into the sewers like that...
by the way, are you student of biology or something?
with respect to your contaminated water comment...
well.. under "NORMAL" practices.. you are not permitted to discard those water into the sewers.. but have to sent to a licensed biochem waste disposal company...
but during extreme cases.. where the quantity of water involved is humongous... such rules becomes ridicules...
however... it serves to help that nerve agents.. have a close brethen.. the organophosphate pesticide... guess.. where are they usually dumped? the soil... and the sewers...
yes... pesticides... are nerve agents...
in excessive dossage... it is just as lethal, and works the same way.
countries like malaysia which manufactures pesticides for their farm usage.. are in perfect position to convert such dual use technology to produce massive amount of chemical agents.
singapore's quest for chemical warfare defence started about 18 years ago.. but 20 years if you include the time they spent on planning and deliberating...
the program was viewed with grave importance by MINDEF, when a ship was intercepted by USN in 1993, the ship was carrying dual use equipment made in malaysia, to be sent to libya.
equipment was identified by american experts as parts needed for the production of nerve agent for warfare... which malaysia claim was actually meant for libya to produce pesticides... a dual use technology.
after that.. the chemical defence planning went into low profile... until recently, apparently due to hope that by publicising our capability.. it would serve to deter terrorist from attempting it, as well as to reassure the naive citizens of singapore.
of course... our malaysian brothers would hear of it as well... -
Originally posted by tripwire
Finally, my doubt have been cleared! I have wondered for a long time at why Singapore is spending so much time, effort and money on chemical and biological defence when no countries in ASEAN have any officially declared weapons. Singapore even went as far as creating a dedicated chemical defence unit and train all personnel in chemical defence. All this before 911.
equipment was identified by american experts as parts needed for the production of nerve agent for warfare... which malaysia claim was actually meant for libya to produce pesticides... a dual use technology.
I suppose tripwire is some kind of defence scientist working for some governemnt linked company. -
i do work in a lab though.... but not in DSO... or DSTA.. or any secret govt lab for your info...Originally posted by tankee1981:Finally, my doubt have been cleared! I have wondered for a long time at why Singapore is spending so much time, effort and money on chemical and biological defence when no countries in ASEAN have any officially declared weapons. Singapore even went as far as creating a dedicated chemical defence unit and train all personnel in chemical defence. All this before 911.
I suppose tripwire is some kind of defence scientist working for some governemnt linked company.
just a simple salary man... working to fill my stomach..
though i was involved in the BC defence trials during its initial infancy....
that should give you an idea... how old i have become.... sigh.... now can only drool at young girls rushing past me.... and drool somemore....
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dont be so sad tripwire, you can always become a lecturer. plenty of girls there!
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nah... wait nosebleed to death...Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:dont be so sad tripwire, you can always become a lecturer. plenty of girls there! 
Dr Loke Weng Keong, Head, Medical Countermeasures - Chemical, DSO National Laboratories, said: " We look at the presence of something else that is inside the blood and we do not need a baseline because of that. This thing does not exist in your body normally and because of this we can do mass screening on site without a reference baseline - we can do 96 people in just half an hour."
frankly... how long would it take to collect blood from 96 people? they should ask the phlebotomist.... half an hour??
how many people do they think would be at the buisest station during peak hour? by the time you finished collecting the blood and processing it.. i think the earth would have rotated on its axis at least once...
and seriously... when do you realise we kenna gas attack? after the kit says so after 30 minutes? (not including the time to get there, collect the blood, ID the blood, documentation and blah blah blah...)
i would think when you starts seeing people dropping like flies within 5 minutes for no reason, is more then enough for any even the most donkey brain to realise something is wrong, without the "super kit" to tell you that...
if i am the boss.. i would tell them to spend their money on upgrading the MRT station air circulation system into a positive pressure system... beats ALL chemical attack... flat...
stupid kit... -
I think there will never be a measure which is ' one size fits all' that can solve all problems without any disadvantages. I agree with tripwire's point on it will take too much time considering the time to get there. Drawing of blood samples should be relatively fast because just do a finger prick. We should have a few preventive measures i suppose the development of the kit is just a small part of the great plan to safeguard Singapore from chemical attacks.
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i can assure you... you dont need that stupid kit to tell you that there is a nerve agent attack....Originally posted by tankee1981:I think there will never be a measure which is ' one size fits all' that can solve all problems without any disadvantages. I agree with tripwire's point on it will take too much time considering the time to get there. Drawing of blood samples should be relatively fast because just do a finger prick. We should have a few preventive measures i suppose the development of the kit is just a small part of the great plan to safeguard Singapore from chemical attacks.
moreover.. treatment must be initiated IMMEDIATELY, if possible on the spot ASAP to save lives...
you cant really afford to delay and wait for result... 30 minute is too long (not including other time considerations)
there are obvious signs and symptons used to tell if a person is exposed to nerve agents... without adding to the pain of the patient by pokeing them for blood.
and moving people out of the station, requires the rescue workers to be in MOP4...
but if there is a powerful positive pressure ventilation system... not only will the number of casualty be reduced to the minimal due to nerve agent being rapidly removed from the station.
the smaller number of casualty would give rescue workers time to concentrate and increase their chances of saving these people... especially if there are multiple attacks.
the first rule of any defence is to REDUCE the number of casualty... the lesser the casualty... the lesser the burden would be on the rescue workers, enabling them to respond more effectively.
when the number of casualties are low... rescue workers would seek to save everyone they can reach to the limits of their ability.
when the number of casualties are overwhelming... rescue workers would be FORCED to save as many as they can and leave some... to GOD.
symptons of nerve agent poisoning...
DUMBELLS.
D=Diarrhea (uncontrollable)
U=Urination (uncontrollable)
M=Miosis (pin point pupil)
B=Bradycardia (very slow heart rate) or Tachycardia (very high heart rate)
E=Emesis (uncontrolled vomitting)
L=Lacrimation (tears... uncontrollable)
L=Lethargy
S=Salivation (excessive saliver production)
anyway... i suspect that kit is used to detect RBC acetylcholine esterase level... just my guess.
for those who wish to know more about nerve agents and how it works on human bodies.... and the treatment.
http://www.chemistry.usna.edu/kinter/nerve%20agent%202.ppt
note: recently.. when taking the MRT north south line... i noticed that the MRT train smells of uric acid (urine)... maybe its because i too long never take MRT... maybe SMRT should consider putting air refreshener for the sake of our tourist as well as locals. -
Originally posted by tripwire
More likely to be uric acid from sweat instaed of urine. I think it will be highly unlikely for someone to pee in the train. Many people sweat due to the hot weather though and it all adds up to the smell over time.
noticed that the MRT train smells of uric acid (urine)... -
yeah... i know...Originally posted by tankee1981:More likely to be uric acid from sweat instaed of urine. I think it will be highly unlikely for someone to pee in the train. Many people sweat due to the hot weather though and it all adds up to the smell over time.
but considering that we got some BIG meetings in singapore... it would be hilarious if foreign press starts reporting how beautiful is singapore on the outside but smelly on the inside of our famous MRT.... -
dumbells... where did you learn that from?Originally posted by tripwire:i can assure you... you dont need that stupid kit to tell you that there is a nerve agent attack....
moreover.. treatment must be initiated IMMEDIATELY, if possible on the spot ASAP to save lives...
you cant really afford to delay and wait for result... 30 minute is too long (not including other time considerations)
there are obvious signs and symptons used to tell if a person is exposed to nerve agents... without adding to the pain of the patient by pokeing them for blood.
and moving people out of the station, requires the rescue workers to be in MOP4...
but if there is a powerful positive pressure ventilation system... not only will the number of casualty be reduced to the minimal due to nerve agent being rapidly removed from the station.
the smaller number of casualty would give rescue workers time to concentrate and increase their chances of saving these people... especially if there are multiple attacks.
the first rule of any defence is to REDUCE the number of casualty... the lesser the casualty... the lesser the burden would be on the rescue workers, enabling them to respond more effectively.
when the number of casualties are low... rescue workers would seek to save everyone they can reach to the limits of their ability.
when the number of casualties are overwhelming... rescue workers would be FORCED to save as many as they can and leave some... to GOD.
symptons of nerve agent poisoning...
DUMBELLS.
D=Diarrhea (uncontrollable)
U=Urination (uncontrollable)
M=Miosis (pin point pupil)
B=Bradycardia (very slow heart rate) or Tachycardia (very high heart rate)
E=Emesis (uncontrolled vomitting)
L=Lacrimation (tears... uncontrollable)
L=Lethargy
S=Salivation (excessive saliver production)
anyway... i suspect that kit is used to detect RBC acetylcholine esterase level... just my guess.
for those who wish to know more about nerve agents and how it works on human bodies.... and the treatment.
http://www.chemistry.usna.edu/kinter/nerve%20agent%202.ppt
note: recently.. when taking the MRT north south line... i noticed that the MRT train smells of uric acid (urine)... maybe its because i too long never take MRT... maybe SMRT should consider putting air refreshener for the sake of our tourist as well as locals. -
dont ask....Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:dumbells... where did you learn that from?
just read the link... i provided... -
news coverage 24 and 26 Jun 2006
2.The main aim of this new kit is to find out who really need treatments.
Tokyo incident showed that hospital full of people whi THINK
thay are hurted by gas.
In fact,many were not hurted.However, with DSO National Laboratories' Scentmate, detection time can be cut down considerably. This novel field diagnostic kit provides quick and reliable screening of individuals suspected of exposure to nerve agents, so that medical attention and resources can be more efficiently deployed for those in need.
3.How to carry out trial?Volunteer any one?
A pin-prick amount of blood sample is taken from the victims, cleaned up and treated before being analysed on microplates. All it takes is about half an hour to screen 96 people, compared to the 16 hours required in a laboratory.
Dr Loke Weng Keong, Head Medical Countermeasures - Chemical Laboratory, said: "In a laboratory, the time taken for analysis depends on the blood sample. It might even take up to a day."
Current field validation test devices require prior baseline measurements to confirm nerve gas exposure. "But it is impossible to get a baseline measurement for an entire nation in the event of a terrorist attack," added Dr Leong.
Field trials with SAF units will be conducted this year and feedback will be collected. -
Originally posted by lionnoisy:
since chemical agents will linger on a victims body and clothing...
[b]news coverage 24 and 26 Jun 2006
2.The main aim of this new kit is to find out who really need treatments.
Tokyo incident showed that hospital full of people whi THINK
thay are hurted by gas.
In fact,many were not hurted.
3.How to carry out trial?Volunteer any one?[/b]
there are dozens of other equipment available globally that can determine if a person is exposed to chemical agents.
secondly... nerve agents works almost instantly... signs and symptoms of nerve agent poisoning occurs rapidly... before the kit result is out.. the symptons will be there already.
normal hospital takes a long time to do a similar test is because time is needed for the specimen to reach the lab and results sent to requestor....
additional proper documentation, testing of specimen, plus countercheckings by senior personal... also add to time spent.
lastly... a normal lab generally have to perform thoudsands of other test.. and thus time are divided further between all the different test . -
i think just administer atropine first then ask questions later..
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the other side of medicine is poison....Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:i think just administer atropine first then ask questions later..
indescriminate usage without basis is just as bad as.