Army Develops Portable System for Trace Detection of Drugs and Chemical Threats
The U.S. Army has developed the Portable Microscopy Chemical Detection System (PMCDS), a 10-pound device that uses microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to detect trace amounts of narcotics and hazardous substances. It can identify as little as 1% fentanyl and is non-destructive to samples. The system is currently used for drug identification but may expand to detect chemical and biological threats.
The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) has created the Portable Microscopy Chemical Detection System (PMCDS), a portable, 10-pound device that combines microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to detect trace amounts of hazardous substances, including narcotics like fentanyl. The PMCDS can identify substances smaller than the human eye can see and has already been deployed at sites along the U.S.-Mexico border for drug identification. The system first locates potential threats with its microscope, then uses a laser to capture a Raman spectrum, which is matched against a library of known chemicals for rapid identification. Unlike traditional methods, the PMCDS does not destroy the sample, allowing further analysis. It can detect as little as 1% fentanyl and is designed to find particles on surfaces hours or days after contamination. The device's primary use is drug identification, but future versions may expand to detect chemical and biological warfare agents and hazardous materials. Next-generation plans include making the PMCDS capable of detecting droplets as well as solids, with funding already secured for further development.
