Multivariate data analysis of fluorescence signals from biological aerosols

This paper describes the use of multivariate data analysis of multiwavelength fluorescence measurements of biological aerosols collected by an air to liquid cyclone sampler. The enriched aerosol suspension was analyzed in a flow cell by a commercial spectrofluorometer at eight different wavelength combinations. The data were obtained from the disseminations of biological simulants at the 6th Joint Field Trials at Defence Research Establishment Suffield, Ralston, Alberta, Canada. The measurement concept was to use intrinsic biological fluorescence to distinguish between the different simulants as well as to distinguish them from interfering particles such as smoke and dust. Fluorescence data were analyzed using principal component analysis. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Field Analyt Chem Technol 5: 171–176, 2001