Abstract: A methodology and an apparatus for the detection of biological substances employing the integration of multiple functions and units designed into and implemented in the form of an individual silicon chip, described as a sensor unit. The deployment of a set of sensor units as a group results in a distributed detecting, discriminating, and alerting network. Distribution of the sensor units facilitates the on-the-spot detection of different biological substances such as viruses, bacteria, spores, allergens, and other toxins that can be suspended in multiple media (air, liquid, blood, etc.). Besides detection/sensing, the individual sensor units perform: data acquisition, data development, data storage, statistical analysis, and data transmission.