S87: TALAp: A new unit of measure for the test and evaluation of bioaerosol detectors

As biological detector technology continues to improve, the need to test and evaluate (T&E) those detectors before field implementation increases.  Unfortunately, the T&E of bioaerosol detectors presents many technical hurdles, not least of which is the proper way to describe aerosol challenges presented to the detectors.  The National Defense University Joint Independent Science Panel has created a new unit of measure to describe bioaerosols, Total Agent per Liter of Air with particle size distribution (TALAp).  TALAp includes the most important variables for test and evaluation of a bioaerosol detector: the total amount of agent present (TALA) and the manner in which the agent is distributed (the particle size distribution, p).  Thus, TALAp provides a far more precise way to determine detector performance, overcoming the main shortfalls of the currently used unit of measure, Agent Containing Particles per Liter of Air (ACPLA).  Importantly, TALAp could be implemented immediately for sealed chamber testing using existing referee equipment.  Therefore, TALAp would significantly expand T&E capabilities with minimal investment in additional infrastructure.