A better anthrax screener?

A newly marketed anthrax detector that originated in the US space program promises to reduce the detection time of the system currently used by the US Postal Service. Devised by the CA-based Universal Detection Technology Inc., BSM-2000 continuously samples surrounding air for high concentrations of bacterial spores and triggers an alarm only on registering a bacterial spore count of 50 or more per liter, on the assumption that a bioterrorist attack will release spores in much greater quantities than normally found. It features a fiber optic system that delivers a microwave beam that heats the outer shell of any bacterial spore and causes it to explode and release a particular chemical, dipicolinic acid (DPA), which is characteristic of all bacteria, including anthrax. The liberated DPA adheres to a tape strip within the device, and if enough collects on the strip, ultraviolet light causes a bright green luminescence to appear. BSM-2000 requires little maintenance and does not require cartridge replacement.