US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ordered over US$5 million in gas chromatography and mass spectrometry equipment and services to build preparedness for chemical terrorism
Agilent Technologies has announced that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has ordered more than US$5 million in Agilent gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) equipment and services as part of a grant programme to build state and local preparedness for chemical terrorism.
Agilent is expected to distribute the instruments to state health laboratories as part of the CDC's effort to develop its Chemical Terrorism Laboratory Network, a USA-wide response network for chemical terrorism and other public health threats. The CDC order includes more than 40 Agilent 6890N/5973 inert GC/MS systems with associated consulting, support and service agreements.
"The purchase of these units is an important step in bolstering state and local infrastructure for dealing with a release of chemical agents," said Mike McMullen, vice president and general manager of Agilent's chemical analysis solutions.
"Agilent's instruments will provide the crucial measurements needed to help guide public health management and response to a chemical terrorist event.
"We look forward to working with the CDC and other [US] government agencies at all levels to develop homeland security solutions that leverage our chemical and biodetection technologies."
