Authors: Drs. Richard Lareau and HJ Jost

This presentation will discuss the concept for the development of an ultra-sensitive characterization tool that provides critical chemical analysis of ingredients, contaminant analytes and cross-contamination amongst training aids, storage, and manufacturing processes. This system could provide a stable, fieldable, and flexible chemical characterization tool for K9 programs and/or K9 training aid developers. This presentation will include discussion on the current Karsa Scenthound product, past studies and data for explosives and other threat materials, as well as a proposed laboratory-based vapor headspace K9 characterization project. At the core of Karsa’s technology is a chemical ionization (CI) atmospheric pressure interface (API) time of flight (TOF) high resolution mass spectrometer (MS) that permits picograms to femtogram detection limits for many explosives and contaminants. Mass resolution is nominally 10,000 resolving power. The novel multi-scheme chemical ionization inlet (MION) is the only commercially available APCI system capable of rapidly switching reagent chemistry by only injecting reagent ions (and not reagent gas) into the sample air . Karsa’s ScentHound base system can sample and characterize vapors as well as particles (via a filter/desorber system) and liquids. Chemical detection of contraband such as illicit drugs, fumigants, pesticides, weapons and explosives, can all be measured with this ultra-sensitive MS based detection system.
Additionally, since the TOF-MS measures and stores all the masses, all the time, it can hence provide a capability to capture a chemical library for many developed and deployed K9 training aids allowing one to later go back to the library to review the mass spectra for K9 training aids that present an issue.