A unique fiber core sampler composition, related systems, and techniques for designing, making, and using the same are described. The sampler is used to interface with existing field instrumentation, such as Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS) equipment. Desired sampler characteristics include its: stiffness/flexibility; thermal mass and conductivity; specific heat; trace substance collection/release dependability, sensitivity and repeatability; thickness; reusability; durability; stability for thermal cleaning; and the like. In one form the sampler has a glass fiber core with a thickness less than 0.3 millimeter that is coated with a polymer including one or more of: polymeric organofluorine, polyimide, polyamide, PolyBenzlmidazole (PBI), PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS), sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene (PFSA) and Poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene Oxide) (PPPO). Multiple polymer coatings with the same or different polymer types may be included, core/substrate surface functionalization utilized, and/or the core/substrate may be at partially filled with thermally conductive particles.

An environmental sampling and assay system, having a coupon storage assembly, storing coupons; an environment sampling assembly, the sampling assembly mixing an environmental sample with a liquid to create a sample-liquid, bearing the environmental sample; a coupon moving assembly; a coupon wetting assembly for automatically wetting a coupon with the sample-liquid; a coupon perceiving device; a data input, adapted to receive a signal; and a data processing and control assembly, controlling the environmental sampling system, the coupon moving assembly, the wetting assembly and the coupon perceiving device. Further, the coupon moving assembly can retrieve a coupon from the coupon storage assembly and move it in a linear manner to the coupon wetting assembly.

An attached substance collection device comprising, a nozzle configured to jet gas upward, a surface equipped with an opening portion through which the gas jets, a collection opening through which the gas jetted toward an inspection object is collected, and a contact detection sensor configured to detect whether or not the inspection object has come into contact with the upper surface, wherein an attached substance attached to the inspection object is collected by using the gas, a height of a distal end of the nozzle is substantially equal to a height of the surface; or equal to or less than a height of the surface, the surface includes a recess portion, and, relative to a jet opening of the nozzle, the recess portion is closer to the collection opening, and is in contact with the jet opening of the nozzle or includes the jet opening of the nozzle.

A sampling device comprising a filter to remove particulates greater than about 10 microns, a dryer active to remove water vapor present in the air sample, a chemical scrubber active to remove contaminants from the air sample, a cold trap to capture analytes which is configurable to be put into fluid communication with a spectroscopic analyzer. A method of obtaining and analyzing a sample utilizing the device is also disclosed.

A process for testing an air source by providing a bag to collect a sample of gas. Connecting the filled bag to a collector assembly that has a fraction of the interior volume of the bag. Forcing the air sample from the bag over a media dish inside the collector assembly. Removing the media for further analysis. Both the bag and the collector assembly have one way exhaust valves to prevent over-pressure and allow a limited flow through of the sample.

Methods for product authentication, which include: providing an article having a substrate with an analyte encoded composition; obtaining a sample of the composition; applying the sample to a test device to obtain test results, analyzing test results from the test device using an electronic device communicatively connected to an authentication authority, wherein the electronic device transmits the test device code and the test results to the authentication authority and confirms or denies authentication after comparison to an authentication database of authentic test results.

In a conventional fine particle detection device that vaporizes fine particles attached to the object of examination by heating, processing capability decreases as the processing time elapses due to the influence of deposition of fine particles other than the object of examination, dirt/dust, a residue of the fine particles as the object of examination, or residual matter. A fine particle detection device according to the present invention includes: a vaporization device that vaporizes the fine particles trapped by a trap device by vaporization or decomposition; a first flow passageway in which a mixture of a component vaporized by the vaporization device and another component flows; a second flow passageway branching from the first flow passageway in a direction of inertial force acting on the other component; a third flow passageway branching from the first flow passageway in a direction different from the direction of the inertial force; and an analysis device that analyzes a component introduced into the third flow passageway.

A unique fiber core sampler composition, related systems, and techniques for designing, making, and using the same are described. The sampler is used to interface with existing field instrumentation, such as Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS) equipment. Desired sampler characteristics include its: stiffness/flexibility; thermal mass and conductivity; specific heat; trace substance collection/release dependability, sensitivity and repeatability; thickness; reusability; durability; stability for thermal cleaning; and the like. In one form the sampler has a glass fiber core with a thickness less than 0.3 millimeter that is coated with a polymer including one or more of: polymeric organofluorine, polyimide, polyamide, PolyBenzImidazole (PBI), PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS), sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene (PFSA) and Poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene Oxide) (PPPO). Multiple polymer coatings with the same or different polymer types may be included, core/substrate surface functionalization utilized, and/or the core/substrate may be at partially filled with thermally conductive particles.

Detection devices, systems, and methods for detecting an analyte in a fluid sample are provided. The detection devices, systems, and methods can include colorimetric detection to rapidly determine the presence and/or quantity of the analyte obtained from a surface that is contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with the analyte. In one aspect, the detection device includes a sample reservoir in fluid communication with a fluid flow path. The fluid flow path includes a control well downstream of the sample reservoir, a valve assembly downstream of the control well, a reagent well downstream of the valve assembly, and a test well downstream of the reagent well. In one aspect, the reagent well includes a dried reducing agent configured to generate a gas in the presence of a detection dye and the analyte in the fluid sample.

A target odor detecting method for screening odor emitters in a relatively confined space using an animate and/or inanimate odor detector to detect one or more target odors.