First on the block for first line of defense

Results of the testing will be available to agencies in the business of first response, including law enforcement, fire patrols, hazardous material experts and other emergency first-responders needing specific tools for effective threat detection.

As requested by the Department of Homeland Security, the results will enable first responders to make educated selections about how equipment will perform under varying scenarios. The Coast Guard has a keen interest in how equipment survives exposure to salt water and extreme temperatures; urban-area security personnel look closely at features such as portability, discreetness, and detector reaction time.

"The success of this testing is a win in several arenas," said Joseph McDonald, a PNNL physicist who chaired the committee tasked with developing the standards. "Agencies that have urgent business in the line of first response and use DHS funds will be able to select reliable equipment that is best suited to their needs. Ultimately, the new performance criteria will raise the bar for quality in personal detection devices."

All testing was conducted in a National Institute of Standards and Technology-traceable radiological calibration laboratory at PNNL where experienced staff, state-of-the-art facilities and specialized instrumentation provided DHS the expertise to complete this first-line-of-defense project in record time.

For more information please contact Kelvin Soldat, 509-375-6810 or visit http://www.pnl.gov/eshs/cap/rcif.