Patent ID: 7171862

Claim:
An apparatus for detecting a biochemical hazard in a package comprising: at least one of the group consisting of an airtight container and an approximately airtight container having a first end and a second end; at least one opening operatively attached to said first end, wherein said at least one opening opens to receive a package and closes thereafter to return said at least one of the group consisting of said airtight container and said approximately airtight container to an airtight state or an approximately airtight state; at least one clamping device located internal to said at least one of the group consisting of said airtight container and said approximately airtight container for holding said package upon receipt of said package in said at least one of the group consisting of said airtight container and said approximately airtight container; at least one circulator, wherein at least a portion of said circulator is coupled to or located internal to said at least one of the group consisting of said airtight container and said approximately airtight container for disturbing particles located inside said package via circulation of at least one of the group consisting of air, gas, and combinations thereof by said circulator; at least one collector coupled to said at least one of the group consisting of said airtight container and said approximately airtight container to receive particles from at least one of the group consisting of said airtight container, said approximately airtight container, said inside of said package, and combinations thereof; and at least one biochemical detector coupled to said collector to analyze said particles.