| TYPE | SIZE | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| CHEMICAL WARFARE SAMPLES | ||
| SOIL | (10 CM X 5 CM X 1 CM) | CIGARETTE-PACK SIZE OR LARGER AREA IS MORE USEFUL THAN GREATER DEPTH |
| DILUTE AGENT | 10 ML | |
| WATER | 500 ML (MAXIMUM) | |
| C18 SEP-PAKTM | 200 ML | |
| VEGETATION | (EQUIVALENT TO 3 LEAVES OR 3 HANDSFUL OF GRASS) | DEPENDS ON AMOUNT OF CONTAMINATION. BEST SAMPLES WILL BE FOUND NEAR THE RELEASE POINT |
| BIOLOGICAL WARFARE SAMPLES | ||
| SOIL | (10 CM X 5 CM X 1 CM) | CIGARETTE-PACK SIZE OR LARGER AREA IS MORE USEFUL THAN GREATER DEPTH |
| LIQUID | 25 TO 50 ML | DO NOT USE C18 SEP-PAKTM WITH MEDICAL SPECIMENS |
| VEGETATION | SIZE OF SOFT DRINK CAN | BEST SAMPLES DEPEND ON THE AMOUNT OF CONTAMINATION FOUND NEAR THE RELEASE POINT |
| MEDICAL SPECIMENS | ||
| URINE | 20 TO 50 ML | MUST OBTAIN CONSENT TO COLLECT SPECIMENS FROM OTHER THAN US CASUALTIES |
| WHOLE BLOOD OR SERUM | 5 ML | MUST OBTAIN CONSENT TO COLLECT SPECIMENS FROM OTHER THAN US CASUALTIES |
| CEREBRAL SPINAL FLUID | 2 ML | MUST OBTAIN CONSENT TO COLLECT SPECIMENS FROM OTHER THAN US CASUALTIES |
| ORGAN TISSUE | 30 G (MINIMUM) | |
| MEDIASTINAL LYMPH NODES | 2 | SHOULD BE REMOVED BY A SURGEON DURING AN AUTOPSY |
B-15. Reporting, Packaging, and Shipment
Although a sample/specimen collected from an alleged attack area can be significant, it can become useless if proper steps are not taken to record critical information about its collection or if it is improperly packed and breaks during shipment to an analysis center. This section discusses the information needed when acquiring samples/specimens and the preferred methods for handling and packing samples/specimens for shipment.
a. A complete background information history of the circumstances about each sample's/specimen's acquisition must be provided to the agency analyzing the sample/specimen.
b. Critical background information includes—
- Circumstances of acquisition. How the sample/specimen was obtained, where it was found, and how it was collected.
- Physical description. The physical state (solid, liquid, powder, apparent viscosity), color, approximate size, identity of the specimen (such as military nomenclature), dirt, leaves, or so forth.
- Circumstances of agent deposition. The type of delivery system, a description of how the weapon functioned, how the agent acted on release, sounds heard during dissemination, a description of any craters or shrapnel found associated with a burst, and colors of smoke, flames, or mist that may be associated with the attack.
c. Provide information on the agent effects on vegetation for soil or environmental samples. A description of the general area (jungle, mountain, grassland) and changes in the vegetation after agent deposition (such as color change, wilting, drying, dead) in the main attack and fringe areas.
d. Provide information on the agent effects on humans for medical specimens. Describe how the agent affected personnel in the main attack area versus fringe areas; the duration of agent effects; peculiar odors that may have been noticed in the area prior to, during, and/or after an attack; measures taken that alleviated or deteriorated the effects; and the approximate number of victims and survivors, to include their ages and genders.
e. Describe the agent effects on animals. Provide information on the types of animals that were or were not affected by an attack and of how they were affected.