Originally Posted by
TSORon
One word. Vapor. Unless of course you are claiming that hydrogen peroxide does not produce vapors, in which case I have to ask what methods you use as a “professional”.
They don’t detect “explosives”, they detect chemicals. That detection means that a more in-depth investigation is needed. That’s all.
Like the ETD systems we use, they can be programed to detect just about any chemical. The US Coast Guard uses the same ETD technology to detect drug traces on interdicted vessels. They are looking for drugs and have their units programed to do so, the TSA is not looking for drugs and our units are not programed for it.
But Ron, they don't detect
drugs, they detect
chemicals.
Besides, this discussion is not about "units" or anything "programmable". This discussion is about dipsticks (and no, that is not, in this context, a disparaging euphemism for TSOs).
I am no chemistry expert, but from everything I've read, coupled with my conversations with a degreed chemist with whom I work, there is no paper test strip that can detect the signatures of the compnonent chemicals in explosives, which does not require physical contact with the tested material.
In plainer language, Ron, there ain't no such thing as a "vapor test strip" that can detect explosives or their consituent chemicals by waving it in the air above a liquid. It doesn't exist, and any claim to the contrary likely originated from the south end of a northbound Bovine.
Having seen some of the pure, unadulterated stupidity that TSA has put forth in recent years as "policy", I can imagine that someone, somewhere, bought some chemical test strips and said, "Hey, now we can test stuff in the steril area for explosives!" But either they A) misunderstood the instructions and actually thought that the strips could work without physical contact, or B) they know the strips don't work without physical contact, but are deliberately ignoring that fact in order to avoid potential troubles arising from TSOs actually dipping the strips into drinks.