Detecting Bacillus cereus spores on a mail sorting system using Raman spectroscopy
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
1-1-2004
Abstract
The ability of Raman spectroscopy to detect anthrax-causing spores as they pass through a mail sorting system was investigated. A pump was connected to an existing vacuum manifold on a commercial sorter, and a filter designed to capture 0.5-3 μm particles was placed in-line. A standard business letter containing 0.23 g of Bacillus cereus spores, a Bacillus anthracis surrogate, was placed in a stack of 20 letters and passed through the system. Raman spectra of the filter positively identified the captured material as bacterial spores by the dominant calcium dipicolinate Raman spectral bands associated with the spore core. A limit of detection, using 400 mW of 785 nm laser excitation for a 1-s acquisition, is estimated at 4.5 mg. The ability of a Raman spectroscopy based system to detect and prevent the distribution of a letter containing gram levels of anthrax spores is discussed. © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Journal of Raman Spectroscopy
Volume
35
Issue
1
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Farquharson, Stuart, Lawrence Grigely, Victor Khitrov, Wayne Smith, Jay F. Sperry, and Gerard Fenerty. "Detecting Bacillus cereus spores on a mail sorting system using Raman spectroscopy." Journal of Raman Spectroscopy 35, 1 (2004). doi: 10.1002/jrs.1111.