Under real-world circumstances, an attack with a biological agent may occur without warning, and the first indication that an attack has occurred may be the appearance of sick personnel. Immediate diagnosis, and the ability to identify those who have been exposed but have not yet developed signs or symptoms, will be essential for an effective response. Disease caused by different biological agents may often begin with the same vague symptoms, but they require different courses of action. These same symptoms may also be caused by a variety of natural infections. In addition, the capability to identify hitherto unknown natural infections and bioengineered agents will be essential.
Time constraints require the ability to test appropriate samples with minimal or no preparation.
Because military operations can occur in virtually any locale, diagnostics should be able to function under extreme environmental conditions. By contrast, current methods for pathogen identification often require specialized skills and reagents and may take hours or days to complete. This could lead to potentially disastrous delays in responding appropriately to the threat or to the possibility of inappropriate action based on inadequate information.