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01 June 2016

Analysis and Attribution to meet the

needs of the 21st Century

Dr Cerys Rees

Fellow – CB Analysis & Attribution

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01 June 2016

Analysis needs in the 20th Century

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01 June 2016

Analysis in the 20th Century

• Supporting destruction

activities

• High concentrations in

samples

• Scheduled chemicals

only

• OPCW reporting rules

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The Challenges of the 21st Century

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Analysis & Attribution at Dstl

• Combined CB facility

• Reception Lab not used

for research

• Chain of custody on all

samples

• To provide senior level

decision makers with

evidence

• To support CT

investigations

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01 June 2016

Chemical Biological Analysis & Attribution Capability (CBAAC)

End to End Process

Sampling & Collection

TransportTransfer to Reception Laboratory

Initial

Screening (if required)

High Confidence

Analysis

Attribution (if required)

Report

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Chain of Custody

Reception & Screening

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High Confidence Analysis

• OPCW designated lab

• ISO17025 flexible scope

of accreditation

• Research to develop

new methods

• Analysis of all

components in sample

to facilitate attribution

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Biomedical Samples

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Current Challenges

• Biomarkers difficult to

identify

• Natural level in humans

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Imperial War Museum

Environmental Samples

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• ISO 17025 methods

• Full scan analysis

• OPCW criteria for identification met in all cases

Synthesis Routes and Starting

Materials

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Novel Approaches

• Crimelites® to identify

contaminated areas

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• Analysis of plants to

identify metabolised CW

Current Challenges

• Chlorine dissipates very

quickly

• Chlorine in

environmental samples

• Background samples for

comparison are

essential

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01 June 2016

Old Weapons or Newly Made

• Modern analytical

techniques could

identify age of material

• Databases for

comparison essential

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Future application of analysis

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Attribution

Traditional Forensics

Explosives analysis

DNA analysis

Agent analysis

Contextual information

Weapons analysis

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01 June 2016