July 16, 2003—Universal Detection Technology (UDET) has fully funded the task plan for its research and development of a bio-terror “smoke detector,” which is being developed at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The device is designed for continuous on-site detection and real time reporting of anthrax and other bacterial contamination. The UDET device detects airborne bacterial spores based on a unique, bacterial spore-specific chemical marker that triggers bright green luminescence when it binds the chemical sensor molecule.
JPL expects to complete testing the prototype instrument in late 2003.
