A signature element of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is the complex and far-reaching verification mechanism that is implemented by the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibitions for Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Although a number of verification activities, especially those in the chemical industry, center on checking submitted declarations with records available on-site, the only way to gather factual evidence on the presence (or absence) of chemicals relevant to the CWC is by the use of techniques from the toolkit offered by analytical chemistry.<br/><br/>From the early days after entry into force of the Convention until know these analytical capabilities have grown significantly. This is demonstrated impressively by the raising complexity and difficulty of Proficiency Tests the OPCW runs to designate partner laboratories for off-site analysis of authentic samples. The once dominant GC-MS techniques are now completed by an ever-increasing use of LC-MS/MS, LC-high-resolution MS, NMR and other techniques. Combined with (micro)synthetic capabilities, this allows structural elucidation of even those chemicals not found in available databases. With respect to biomedical samples the OPCW has run a number of confidence building exercises in which participants have demonstrated their ability to analyze both small molecule metabolites of chemical warfare agents as well as protein adducts at sub ppb concentrations. These capabilities were successfully used in assisting the UN-led mission investigating the use of chemicals weapons in Syria and the report containing the results of analysis were submitted by the head of mission to the UN Secretary General and the Security Council.<br/><br/>While the talk will focus to outline the developments that lead to the current state-of-the-art in analytical techniques it will also try to identify trends for the years to come and will point out the deterrent value of an advanced analytical toolset that will make violations of the Convention increasingly difficult to hide

Finding the needle in the haystack: The development of analytical capabilities at the OPCW and partner laboratories in support of verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention

249th National Meeting (2015)

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