Military Praises Device That Detects Deadly Viruses

by Frank Curreri

The Salt Lake Tribune

June 24, 2000

Military scientists are studying a DNA detector that may make Americans significantly less vulnerable to terrorist attacks with chemical and biological weapons.

The invention, created by Salt Lake City-based Idaho Technologies at the federal government's request, uses DNA testing and RNA sequencing to quickly identify a host of deadly invisible pathogens, including anthrax and the plague.

Health and law enforcement officials might otherwise be slow recognize bio-terrorist attacks because tests of blood, air, food, water or soil samples usually must be shipped to remote laboratories, a discovery process that can take days.

In preliminary trials, Idaho Technologies' $55,000 device has confirmed deadly viruses or bacteria in 15 minutes.

While such swift identification would not enable officials to halt a chemical or biological attack, it might allow them to limit its destruction and save lives.

"This is very powerful technology," Brig. Gen. Klaus Schafer, top surgeon for the U.S. Air Force's Air Combat Command, said Friday during a Salt Lake City seminar on the device. "The military's using it right now and they're working with the [Food and Drug Administration] for approval."

The diagnostic detector, which comes in a 40-pound camouflaged backpack, looks like a miniature record player and is connected to a laptop computer. It was used last December in Saudi Arabia, when U.S. troops stationed there reported serious diarrhea and distress. Salmonella was eventually fingered as the culprit.

"We were able to contain this outbreak to about 3 percent of the [soldier] population," said Lt. Col. Debra Niemeyer, a senior staff scientist for the U.S. Air Force. "If we hadn't done that, it could have spread to the rest of the population very quickly."

Anti-terrorism efforts cost the U.S. government $10 billion last year.

While the portable detector appears most useful for military purposes, its founders envision its greatest success in the civilian arena, in city hospitals, fire departments and police stations.

Public health officials in Seattle, for instance, hired Idaho Technologies last fall in preparation for hosting the World Trade Organization's annual conference. Idaho Technologies presided over a computer network between eight area hospitals and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, an information sharing project considered vital to effectively curbing any potential chemical warfare situation. While riots disrupted the conference there were no instances of bio-terrorism.

The device will be ready in time for the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, said Todd Ritter, director of business development for Idaho Technologies.

Ritter said the FBI has "talked about" using the lightweight detectors for the 2002 Games, but has not made a commitment. FBI officials were unavailable for comment Friday, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dave Schwendiman, full-time planner for the 2002 Games, said he was "not aware" of the detector's existence.

That may change. Schafer, a military veteran of 28 years, said he envisions the diagnostic detector becoming commonplace in the U.S. military within two to five years, even being upgraded to a handheld

device.