Oct 8 2008
QualSec, the leading innovator in electronic nose (eNose) technology, believes presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have demonstrated their commitment to bio-security and pandemic prevention. Recently on www.sciencedebate2008.com, both candidates weighed in on the crucial role of technology in fighting these threats.
"Samples from currently-deployed detectors must be collected by hand and analyzed in laboratories. This can mean that up to 30 hours elapses between when a biological agent is released and when it is analyzed and identified in a lab," said McCain.
“Their grasp of the latest technology is impressive,” remarked J. E. Hand, President and Director of QualSec. With national security and public health dominating the presidential discussions, innovative and cost-effective solutions are on the horizon.
McCain continued: "We need to continue to develop and facilitate the development of next generation automated detectors that can analyze as well as sample biological agents and feed information real-time to public health and emergency management officials."
On the crucial importance of time in bio-threat detection, QualSec believes that McCain is right. QualSec’s handheld, easy-to-use NanoNose utilizes breakthroughs in nanotechnology to analyze and quantify airborne particles in seconds instead of hours, giving homeland security or public health agencies the edge they need.
As noted in Homeland Security Today, QualSec's patented NanoNose provides real-time on-site analyses never previously offered by electronic nose manufacturers. Further, the NanoNose requires no extensive training for accurate usage.
Obama also reflected upon the importance of technology in bio-terror and pandemic response, saying he "will invest in new vaccines and technology to detect attacks and to trace them to their origin, so that we can react in a timely fashion."
The urgent need for devices such as the NanoNose has been acknowledged by both candidates. No matter who wins November's election, QualSec is poised to alter the national security landscape.