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Chemical Terrorism Unit

The Chemical Terrorism Unit (CTU) is part of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Bureau of Laboratories (BOL). The CTU was recently awarded funding under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism Grant to address chemical terrorism. Federal funding will be used to develop/enhance laboratory capability that provides rapid and effective analysis of clinical specimens for possible chemical warfare agents. By establishing an advanced, secure laboratory that can determine exposure of individuals to a chemical terrorism agent, the state will be able to address public health management of a chemical terrorism incident, help guide emergency medical personnel, identify the chemical agent used, and monitor exposed individuals.

Goals

• Expand chemical laboratory capacity to prepare and respond to chemical terrorism incidents and other chemical emergencies.
• Develop emergency plans and operating procedures incorporated into SC Emergency Operations Plan that will address chemical terrorism incidents.

Benefits

• 24 hour response to a Chemical Terrorism Incident
• Rapid analysis/identification of Chemical Warfare Agents
• Advanced instrumentation that provides increased sensitivity to detect chemical agents
• Partnerships with other Chemical Terrorism Laboratories

Kit Information

CTU will provide sample collection kits to hospitals in SC. These kits will be used in the event of a chemical emergency. They will contain collection devices, collection and shipment instructions, etc. Training will be provided to hospital personnel on how and when to use the kits.

Chemicals Analyzed, Instrumentation, Specimen Types

• Metals
  • Arsenic
  • Cadmium
  • Lead
  • Mercury
  • Thallium
  • Uranium
• Blistering Agents
  • Lewisites
• Blood Agents
  • Cyanide
  • Cyanogen Chloride (CK)
  • Hydrogen Cyanide (ACN)
  • Potassium Cyanide (KCN)
  • Sodium Cyanide (NaCN)
• Incapacitating Agents
  • Cannabinoids
  • LSD
• Instrumentation
  • ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled-Mass Spectrometer)
  • GC/MSD (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer Detector)
• Types of Specimens
  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Saliva
  • Hair