As a follow-on to the Joint Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS) program, RTI refurbished the PC/104 Bio-suite Control System (BCS), and using the Immuno-Assay Strip Identifier, and a laptop as the user console, produced the Automatic Carrier Quality Control System (ACQCS). This system will be used by the Soldier Biological and Chemical Command (SBCCOM) and the Joint Program Office for Biological Defense (JPO-BD) to insure that only quality identification strips are sent out into the field for the purpose of accurately identifying biological warfare agents (BWAs).

ACQCS is capable of scanning JBPDS assay strip carriers, each containing ten strips, and identify 5 different types of anomalies on the strips. The anomalies identified are Control Line Present, Test Line Present, Scratches on Carrier, White Area Bad, and Rippled Strip.

Using the ACQCS Graphical User Interface (GUI) an operator can request calibration and scan operations, stop, save and print requests. The textual display logs the status of each strip, while the progress indicator records the visual state of each carrier: RED=Failed (at least one of the 10 strips did not pass), GREEN=Passed (all 10 strips passed), and YELLOW=there was no carrier present. Using the Save button (or drop-down menu) the operator can save the textual status to a log file, or send it to the default printer using the Print button (or Drop-down).

The net effect of this system will be to isolate carriers that contain faults, thus reducing the number of false positives and negatives experienced during JBPDS operation. This is very important in maintaining a superior offensive and defensive posture of our fighting forces in the field when under the threat of biological warfare.