New Trace Detection Technology Offers Improved Security

Instrumentation specialist Quantitech has reported enormous levels of interest in a new trace detection technology that was launched at this year’s Transport Security Expo at London’s Olympia.

The new technology was developed by TeknoScan Systems of Canada and their Vice-President Larry Wardrop was present at the Quantitech booth to explain the many advantages of the new instrument over existing techniques. Commenting on the success of the event, Larry said: "A considerable amount of time and money has gone into the development and assessment of this technology, so we were delighted to receive such an enthusiastic reception at the Expo."

The TeknoScan TSI-3000 is a highly sensitive and selective portable system for detecting banned substances, capable of simultaneously detecting target substances from a library of up to 50 separate compounds, providing complete analysis of a sample in 3 minutes or less. A major feature of the equipment is the virtual elimination of false alarms.

During field trials, TeknoScan demonstrated detection and identification of threat substances from samples as small as 0.1 nanograms in a polluted environment. Therefore, there is an extremely high probability of detection if an individual, object or container has been in contact with a target substance, even if masking agents are present.

Quantitech’s Managing Director Keith Golding said: “There are three important features to this new technology. Firstly, samples are acquired by aspiration and we are able to detect substances both in the volatile state and attached to other tiny particles of dust. Secondly, the number of false alarms is dramatically reduced by concentrating and purifying the sample with a number of sequential techniques, and thirdly, it is a networkable product that can be updated as and when new drugs or explosives become a threat.

"A reliable technology for detecting banned substances on passengers and in freight cargo is critically important to every aspect of security, so we are very excited about the prospects for the TeknoScan technology."