Next Gen Autonomous Detection System (NG-ADS) | Northrop Grumman Corporation

General Description
The NG-ADS is an autonomous biodetection system designed to collect and analyze air samples for biological threat agents. The system is designed to run unattended in indoor and outdoor environments for several weeks between replenishments. The system includes many on-board diagnostics and built-in controls with every test to monitor system performance and assure proper functionality. The NG-ADS is fully networked and provides alerts to users through a number of communication pathways. Real time data access and remote command/control are available through a simple web application accessible on any desktop, laptop, smartphone or other web-enabled device. This allows remote start/stop commands, execution of built in diagnostic routines, anytime access to instrument data, and on the fly sampling interval changes. The system can perform a retest on a sample to confirm results, and it can also be configured to accept liquid samples, if desired. System operation is supported by an optional suite of logistics management applications tailored for NG-ADS. These applications provide closed-loop tracking of maintenance actions, inventory management, calibration tracking, maintenance history reports, and other logistics information. The NG-ADS has undergone extensive testing by a variety of government test entities and has demonstrated real world performance in several recent field tests.

Technical Description
The NG-ADS uses a continuous flow wet cyclone aerosol collector to collect aerosol particles from ambient air or a targeted source. The collected liquid sample is then tested by the system at user-configurable intervals. The system is capable of performing multiplexed PCR analysis or multiplexed immunoassay analysis, or both, on each collected sample. The PCR analysis is a highly multiplexed flow through PCR reaction coupled with Luminex’s xMAP® liquid encoded bead array technology. 50 or more discrete targets can be detected simultaneously. The immunoassay assay uses the same liquid encoded bead array technology to perform a multiplexed sandwich immunoassay.

Evaluation Criteria

THROUGHPUT:

Between 60 minutes and 8 hours for detection
Multiple samples, multiple tests/sample per run
Less than 32 samples every 2 hours
The system or device is currently fully automated
Device or system is intended for multiple detection assays
5 or more solutions, buffer, eluents, and/or reagents
0 components
Greater than 20 minutes is required for set-up
Automatic detection

LOGISTICS:

A day of training and technical skills are required
Approximately the size of a home dishwasher
More than 50 kg
Wireless and wired connections are available
System or device has 110V electrical requirement

OPERATIONS:

Can be used from 4°C to 37°C
Components must be stored at 4°C
Performance is not influenced by relative humidity
Between 6 months and 1 year shelf life
Greater than 10 years expected life
Results can be viewed in real-time
The system or device is currently fully autonomous
The system software is open but modification requires licensing
The system hardware is open but modification requires licensing

DETECTION:

Possible the system could receive 510K clearance, no current efforts at this time
Possible the system could receive FDA approval, no current efforts at this time
Less than 250 µL
Superior specificity. System has a false alarm rate approaching zero (~0%)
100-1,000 CFU per mL
100-1,000 PFU per mL
Less than 1 ng per mL
Fully automated spore lysis