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Making the World Safer
Helping to protect the world from chemical, explosive, narcotic, and radiation threats
Our commitment is to help ensure that safety and security teams are properly equipped to keep the public and themselves safe when it comes to the detection and identification of radioactive materials, chemicals, or explosive threats. From local police departments working to keep drugs off the streets, to first responders facing unknown hazardous materials, to security personnel monitoring crowded venues for radiation sources, and to the military and CBRNE defense teams who are subjected to the harshest and most frightening threats known to man, we stay at the forefront of technology so that you can do your important work. Together we can protect the future.
Chemical identification tools - keeping the public safe from potential chemical weapons and explosives
Unknown and potentially explosive chemicals can be a threat to the public, the military, and to first responders rushing to hazmat incidents. Military personnel need to be able to rapidly identify chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and toxic industrial materials. CBERNE and government agencies, like border patrol, customs, and homeland security, face the daunting challenge of deterring dangerous chemical substances, chemical weapons, and explosives from entering the country without interrupting travel or commercial shipping. And Hazmat technicians, firefighters and incident commanders need to quickly analyze and identify the contents of unlabeled spilled material and illegally dumped drums of hazardous materials.
At the same time, those who are protecting us are right in the hazard zone, and need to minimize their own risk of contamination and exposure.
"IEDs were the ‘what-if’ scenario, where now, they’re the primary weapon of our enemies. We’ve had to become electronics technicians, chemists and engineers to stay on top of the rapidly changing IED environment. The need for proper training has never been higher, and those that aren’t properly trained or fail to grasp the concepts, usually pay in blood.” Read the full story >
-Alan Higgins, EOD specialist, Federal Resources, 25 year veteran of the US Marine Corps., and a highly experienced EOD operator with multiple combat tours in support of both conventional and special operations forces
“Despite their constant vigilance, the world’s ports of entry and borders can serve as gateways for illegal narcotics, new synthetic drugs, explosives, precursors, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and unknown chemicals….Understaffed CBP organizations are on the front lines, balancing the interdiction of suspicious shipments with keeping commerce moving.” Read the full story >
Referenced products:
- Thermo Scientific Gemini Analyzer – Identify a broad range of unknown chemicals and explosives in the field quickly, safely, and confidently using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy in a single instrument.
- Thermo Scientific FirstDefender RM – This handheld chemical identification instrument enables hazmat, law enforcement, military, and other first responders to obtain accurate identification of chemicals, explosives, and hazardous materials in seconds, even through sealed translucent containers.
Additional Resources:
When You Need to Know if the Threat is Real
Learn about the advanced technology, planning tools, and instruments available to first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, military, and government agencies to aid in the detection of radioactive materials and the identification of chemicals, narcotics, and explosive threats. Includes grant information. Read A Practical Guide to Safety and Security Threat Detection Technology
Drug identification tools - keeping the public safe from illegal narcotics and counterfeit drugs
The global drug problem is increasing, with trafficking of meth, heroin, and emerging threats like fentanyl, and carfentanil, impacting communities worldwide. Law enforcement officials need to quickly identify suspected narcotics in the field to help keep drugs, and drug dealers, off the streets. In addition, law enforcement officers need to keep themselves safe when encountering dangerous drugs since many narcotics can be lethal if officers are exposed to even trace amounts.
When You Need to Know if the Threat is Real
Learn about the advanced technology, planning tools, and instruments available to first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, military, and government agencies to aid in the detection of radioactive materials and the identification of chemicals, narcotics, and explosive threats. Includes grant information. Read A Practical Guide to Safety and Security Threat Detection Technology
“In response to the growing backlog and its potential impact on prosecution, the JSU Center for Applied Forensics (JSU CFAF), the Calhoun-Cleburne Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the District Attorney for Calhoun and Cleburne Counties implemented a trial solution incorporating handheld narcotics identification technology and preliminary drug examination reports. Through this trial and subsequent efforts, they were able to have a significant, measurable impact on the court system in Calhoun County, Alabama, meeting their initial objectives of helping to relieve the state lab backlog and increasing the speed, efficiency and effectiveness of prosecution.”Read the full story >
Counterfeit and substandard medicines are increasingly entering the supply chain, representing a deadly and growing worldwide health risk for patients and a costly violation of intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical manufacturers. These drugs at best will not deliver the therapy they promise and at worst can endanger patients’ lives.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that ‘look alike’ or counterfeit drugs comprise as much as 10 percent of pharmaceuticals worldwide (approximately $30 billion USD), and in some countries up to 50 percent of the drug supply.” Read the full story >
Identify Rapidly Evolving Novel Psychoactive Drug Substances Faster
Download an overview of the current state of forensic chemistry and the latest mass spectrometry technology for identifying rapidly evolving NPS faster.
Referenced Products
- Thermo Scientific TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer - Quickly identify suspected narcotics in the field to help keep drugs, and drug dealers, off the streets.
- Thermo Scientific Gemini Analyzer – Quickly identify a broad range of unknown chemicals, including precursors, in the field.
- Thermo Scientific TruScan RM Handheld Raman Analyzer - Pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers can obtain fast, accurate material verification in less than 30 seconds anywhere in the plant, or in the field, to combat the spread of falsified medicines.
- Thermo Scientific TruScan GP Analyzer - Raw material identification and finished product inspection to screen out counterfeit substances and reduce supply chain risk.
Additional Resources
- Synthetic Cathinones Identification
- Synthetic Cannabinoids Identification
- Join our Drug Testing Community
- Subscribe to our Identifying Threats Blog
Radiation detection and measurement tools- keeping the public safe from radiation emergencies
Many people do not realize that radiological sources are used extensively in the industrial and medical industries. Hospitals have many diagnostic and treatment equipment that contain radioactive sources. Foods and water sources are irradiated to disinfect and kill germs. The clothing and cookwear industries also utilize radiation to treat their products. When these types of equipment are discarded, so are the sources. If not disposed of properly, these orphan sources can be dangerous – not only because they can inadvertently contaminate our recycling stream but they can unintentionally (or intentionally) get into the hands of criminals who want to build dirty bombs. It’s up to government agencies, law enforcement personnel, hazmat responders, and even the scrap metal recycling facility operators, to keep the public safe from these radiation emergencies.
“Radiological material is used throughout the world for medical and industrial purposes. It plays a vital role in the treatment of patients inside a hospital, but the effects of radiological material ending up in the hands of terrorists could be devastating. Radiation detectors need to become standard protocol in places where radiological material can be easily accessed.” Read this article from Homeland Security Today about radiological risks at hospitals and medical facilities.
“Alarmingly, malicious actors do not need to go abroad to access the radiological material necessary to develop a dirty bomb. There is widespread availability of highly dangerous isotopes, including cesium-137 and cobalt-60, in the United States, and most of the sources of these materials are not secure.” Read the full story >
Referenced Products
- Thermo Scientific RadEye SPRD-GN Spectroscopic Personal Radiation Detector - Pager-sized personal radiation detector for gamma detection, gamma ID, and neutron detection.
- Thermo Scientific RadEye G Series Personal Dose Rate Meters - Continuous monitoring of radiation exposure in any nuclear or radiological emergency.
- Thermo Scientific RadHalo RDP and FM Spectroscopic Area Monitors – Detection and identification of radiation on location or from miles away.
- Thermo Scientific RIIDEye X/M Series Handheld Radiation Isotope Identifiers - Handheld radioisotope identifiers for evaluating water or soil sample or searching for materials that could make a dirty bomb.
Additional Resources
- Solutions for Finding Radiation Threats
- Radiation Dosimetry Solutions
- Solutions for Military: Chemical and Radiation Threats
- Solutions for Government Agencies: Narcotics, Chemical and Radiation Threats
- Solutions for Fire Fighters: Chemical and Radiation Threats
When You Need to Know if the Threat is Real
Learn about the advanced technology, planning tools, and instruments available to first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, military, and government agencies to aid in the detection of radioactive materials and the identification of chemicals, narcotics, and explosive threats. Includes grant information. Read A Practical Guide to Safety and Security Threat Detection Technology
Forensics tools – essential to the criminal justice system
Forensics plays a vital role in keeping the public safe from criminals, and technology can play a key role in the investigation and prosecution of crime. Forensic toxicology and DNA analysis, trace evidence detection, peer-proven paper and ink investigation tools, and controlled substance identification instruments are just some of the tools used by the criminal justice system.
"Investigators working in the criminal justice system are tasked with providing rapid and accurate identification of illegal substances, enabling prosecutors to properly carry out justice. Many crime labs use GC-IR (also known as GC-Fourier Transform IR), a robust hyphenated method, to confirm identification of cannabinoids, bath salts, and other drugs of abuse.” Read the full story >
"Simon Hudson, Technical Director at a division of LGC, discusses advantages of targeted and untargeted forensic drugs of abuse screening with high resolution mass spectyrometry (HRAM MS).” Learn more >
FT-Raman: an invaluable addition to the forensic arsenal to combat the opioid epidemic
Unlawfully manufactured fentanyl is becoming a major driver of opioid overdoses. Learn about the advantages of using FT-Raman spectroscopy for the detection and identification of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
Referenced Products
- Q Exactive Focus Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer - Benefit from the high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) performance advantages offered by our unique Orbitrap mass analyzers.
- Thermo Scientific TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer - Quickly identify suspected narcotics in the field to help keep drugs, and drug dealers, off the streets.
- High-Resolution Accurate-Mass MS/MS Spectral Libraries – Libraries providing high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) MS/MS spectra for identification, confirmation, and quantification of thousands of compounds.
- Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50 FTIR Spectrometer - Provides definitive answers when fast, easy workflows in your analytical laboratory are crucial.
Additional Resources
- Clinical Research and Forensic Solutions
- Drug Screening and Confirmation
- Novel Psychoactive Substances
Chemical identification tools - keeping the public safe from potential chemical weapons and explosives
Unknown and potentially explosive chemicals can be a threat to the public, the military, and to first responders rushing to hazmat incidents. Military personnel need to be able to rapidly identify chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and toxic industrial materials. CBERNE and government agencies, like border patrol, customs, and homeland security, face the daunting challenge of deterring dangerous chemical substances, chemical weapons, and explosives from entering the country without interrupting travel or commercial shipping. And Hazmat technicians, firefighters and incident commanders need to quickly analyze and identify the contents of unlabeled spilled material and illegally dumped drums of hazardous materials.
At the same time, those who are protecting us are right in the hazard zone, and need to minimize their own risk of contamination and exposure.
"IEDs were the ‘what-if’ scenario, where now, they’re the primary weapon of our enemies. We’ve had to become electronics technicians, chemists and engineers to stay on top of the rapidly changing IED environment. The need for proper training has never been higher, and those that aren’t properly trained or fail to grasp the concepts, usually pay in blood.” Read the full story >
-Alan Higgins, EOD specialist, Federal Resources, 25 year veteran of the US Marine Corps., and a highly experienced EOD operator with multiple combat tours in support of both conventional and special operations forces
“Despite their constant vigilance, the world’s ports of entry and borders can serve as gateways for illegal narcotics, new synthetic drugs, explosives, precursors, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and unknown chemicals….Understaffed CBP organizations are on the front lines, balancing the interdiction of suspicious shipments with keeping commerce moving.” Read the full story >
Referenced products:
- Thermo Scientific Gemini Analyzer – Identify a broad range of unknown chemicals and explosives in the field quickly, safely, and confidently using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy in a single instrument.
- Thermo Scientific FirstDefender RM – This handheld chemical identification instrument enables hazmat, law enforcement, military, and other first responders to obtain accurate identification of chemicals, explosives, and hazardous materials in seconds, even through sealed translucent containers.
Additional Resources:
When You Need to Know if the Threat is Real
Learn about the advanced technology, planning tools, and instruments available to first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, military, and government agencies to aid in the detection of radioactive materials and the identification of chemicals, narcotics, and explosive threats. Includes grant information. Read A Practical Guide to Safety and Security Threat Detection Technology
Drug identification tools - keeping the public safe from illegal narcotics and counterfeit drugs
The global drug problem is increasing, with trafficking of meth, heroin, and emerging threats like fentanyl, and carfentanil, impacting communities worldwide. Law enforcement officials need to quickly identify suspected narcotics in the field to help keep drugs, and drug dealers, off the streets. In addition, law enforcement officers need to keep themselves safe when encountering dangerous drugs since many narcotics can be lethal if officers are exposed to even trace amounts.
When You Need to Know if the Threat is Real
Learn about the advanced technology, planning tools, and instruments available to first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, military, and government agencies to aid in the detection of radioactive materials and the identification of chemicals, narcotics, and explosive threats. Includes grant information. Read A Practical Guide to Safety and Security Threat Detection Technology
“In response to the growing backlog and its potential impact on prosecution, the JSU Center for Applied Forensics (JSU CFAF), the Calhoun-Cleburne Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and the District Attorney for Calhoun and Cleburne Counties implemented a trial solution incorporating handheld narcotics identification technology and preliminary drug examination reports. Through this trial and subsequent efforts, they were able to have a significant, measurable impact on the court system in Calhoun County, Alabama, meeting their initial objectives of helping to relieve the state lab backlog and increasing the speed, efficiency and effectiveness of prosecution.”Read the full story >
Counterfeit and substandard medicines are increasingly entering the supply chain, representing a deadly and growing worldwide health risk for patients and a costly violation of intellectual property rights for pharmaceutical manufacturers. These drugs at best will not deliver the therapy they promise and at worst can endanger patients’ lives.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that ‘look alike’ or counterfeit drugs comprise as much as 10 percent of pharmaceuticals worldwide (approximately $30 billion USD), and in some countries up to 50 percent of the drug supply.” Read the full story >
Identify Rapidly Evolving Novel Psychoactive Drug Substances Faster
Download an overview of the current state of forensic chemistry and the latest mass spectrometry technology for identifying rapidly evolving NPS faster.
Referenced Products
- Thermo Scientific TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer - Quickly identify suspected narcotics in the field to help keep drugs, and drug dealers, off the streets.
- Thermo Scientific Gemini Analyzer – Quickly identify a broad range of unknown chemicals, including precursors, in the field.
- Thermo Scientific TruScan RM Handheld Raman Analyzer - Pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers can obtain fast, accurate material verification in less than 30 seconds anywhere in the plant, or in the field, to combat the spread of falsified medicines.
- Thermo Scientific TruScan GP Analyzer - Raw material identification and finished product inspection to screen out counterfeit substances and reduce supply chain risk.
Additional Resources
- Synthetic Cathinones Identification
- Synthetic Cannabinoids Identification
- Join our Drug Testing Community
- Subscribe to our Identifying Threats Blog
Radiation detection and measurement tools- keeping the public safe from radiation emergencies
Many people do not realize that radiological sources are used extensively in the industrial and medical industries. Hospitals have many diagnostic and treatment equipment that contain radioactive sources. Foods and water sources are irradiated to disinfect and kill germs. The clothing and cookwear industries also utilize radiation to treat their products. When these types of equipment are discarded, so are the sources. If not disposed of properly, these orphan sources can be dangerous – not only because they can inadvertently contaminate our recycling stream but they can unintentionally (or intentionally) get into the hands of criminals who want to build dirty bombs. It’s up to government agencies, law enforcement personnel, hazmat responders, and even the scrap metal recycling facility operators, to keep the public safe from these radiation emergencies.
“Radiological material is used throughout the world for medical and industrial purposes. It plays a vital role in the treatment of patients inside a hospital, but the effects of radiological material ending up in the hands of terrorists could be devastating. Radiation detectors need to become standard protocol in places where radiological material can be easily accessed.” Read this article from Homeland Security Today about radiological risks at hospitals and medical facilities.
“Alarmingly, malicious actors do not need to go abroad to access the radiological material necessary to develop a dirty bomb. There is widespread availability of highly dangerous isotopes, including cesium-137 and cobalt-60, in the United States, and most of the sources of these materials are not secure.” Read the full story >
Referenced Products
- Thermo Scientific RadEye SPRD-GN Spectroscopic Personal Radiation Detector - Pager-sized personal radiation detector for gamma detection, gamma ID, and neutron detection.
- Thermo Scientific RadEye G Series Personal Dose Rate Meters - Continuous monitoring of radiation exposure in any nuclear or radiological emergency.
- Thermo Scientific RadHalo RDP and FM Spectroscopic Area Monitors – Detection and identification of radiation on location or from miles away.
- Thermo Scientific RIIDEye X/M Series Handheld Radiation Isotope Identifiers - Handheld radioisotope identifiers for evaluating water or soil sample or searching for materials that could make a dirty bomb.
Additional Resources
- Solutions for Finding Radiation Threats
- Radiation Dosimetry Solutions
- Solutions for Military: Chemical and Radiation Threats
- Solutions for Government Agencies: Narcotics, Chemical and Radiation Threats
- Solutions for Fire Fighters: Chemical and Radiation Threats
When You Need to Know if the Threat is Real
Learn about the advanced technology, planning tools, and instruments available to first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, military, and government agencies to aid in the detection of radioactive materials and the identification of chemicals, narcotics, and explosive threats. Includes grant information. Read A Practical Guide to Safety and Security Threat Detection Technology
Forensics tools – essential to the criminal justice system
Forensics plays a vital role in keeping the public safe from criminals, and technology can play a key role in the investigation and prosecution of crime. Forensic toxicology and DNA analysis, trace evidence detection, peer-proven paper and ink investigation tools, and controlled substance identification instruments are just some of the tools used by the criminal justice system.
"Investigators working in the criminal justice system are tasked with providing rapid and accurate identification of illegal substances, enabling prosecutors to properly carry out justice. Many crime labs use GC-IR (also known as GC-Fourier Transform IR), a robust hyphenated method, to confirm identification of cannabinoids, bath salts, and other drugs of abuse.” Read the full story >
"Simon Hudson, Technical Director at a division of LGC, discusses advantages of targeted and untargeted forensic drugs of abuse screening with high resolution mass spectyrometry (HRAM MS).” Learn more >
FT-Raman: an invaluable addition to the forensic arsenal to combat the opioid epidemic
Unlawfully manufactured fentanyl is becoming a major driver of opioid overdoses. Learn about the advantages of using FT-Raman spectroscopy for the detection and identification of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
Referenced Products
- Q Exactive Focus Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer - Benefit from the high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) performance advantages offered by our unique Orbitrap mass analyzers.
- Thermo Scientific TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer - Quickly identify suspected narcotics in the field to help keep drugs, and drug dealers, off the streets.
- High-Resolution Accurate-Mass MS/MS Spectral Libraries – Libraries providing high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) MS/MS spectra for identification, confirmation, and quantification of thousands of compounds.
- Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50 FTIR Spectrometer - Provides definitive answers when fast, easy workflows in your analytical laboratory are crucial.
Additional Resources
- Clinical Research and Forensic Solutions
- Drug Screening and Confirmation
- Novel Psychoactive Substances