testing eye drops
 

on another forum that i belong this was posted


"My DH takes sealed bottles of eyedrops ( for glaucoma) with a prescription. Last year they opened them all and tested them with some chemicals. I completely understand why they were tested, but they do have a limited shelf life once opened.
This year he will be putting some in his case rather than carrying the whole supply"

can they open medication like this and put something in them to test it, would not like to put the drops in my eyes after they have contaminated the drops with an unknown substance

I've dealt with a similar issue before. In the past, they have wanted to test my immune suppressant drugs. Needless to say it escalated quickly.

I'm guess, I'm really hoping here...

IF they absolutely must do this, they should take a sample (a drop) into a separate, clean container and then put whatever test chemicals in that.

Now, from the threads on here, I would assume they test it in the same way that they "test" drinks purchased on the secure side - by holding a strip above the container and allowing the vapor to interact with the strip (and by chasing down everyone in a game of tag rather than periodically testing soft drink dispensers and randomly selected bottled or canned beverages, of course).

I personally would escalate. In the first case, if every screener in every airport "only took one or two drops" you'd be out of medication that you can't just by over the counter and might be very expensive (how DO you explain to your health insurance provider that you lost your medicine from transiting airport security too often?)

Even more important, such medication - especially eye drops - must remain sterile. With all the jostling and apathy of the screeners, it's too high a risk for a gloved/ungloved hand that didn't get washed in the bathroom and touched a hundred other passengers, coming into contact with the tip of the eye drops. That could spell serious infection.

I would escalate, escalate, escalate. The label on the bottle is proof enough, and certainly if you have a full copy of the prescription/doctor's note.

Glaucoma is a serious disease - blindness isn't worth the risk. This is just another example of how TSA actively makes our lives more dangerous.

^

This is especially baffling if the drops are sealed. I've taken through sealed food and drinks before, I've never had them blink an eye. I've specifically asked them if sealed items were an issue, and the TSOs have always said that if it is factory sealed it is not an issue. I don't know why medicine would be any different.

I would love it if they told me they needed to test my sterile side drink. I would chug it, hand them the empty and walk away. Couldn't do that with a Starbuck's hot coffee, though.

Spot on about the glaucoma. My Father-in-law used multiple expensive prescripted drops to control his.

Can they? Apparently, yes. Should they? No.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1059.shtm

This activity of the TSA is an absolute proof of security theater. There is no strip test available to detect peroxides (their big worry behind the liquid restrictions) by holding a test strip above the solution. Peroxides are simply not volatile enough (and test strips not sensitive enough) to be detected in this manner.

I am stating this as a specialized professional.

Sealed food, maybe. Sealed drinks over 3.3 Oz are prohibited unless there is a medical need. I have had a canned Coke accidentally left in my backpack surrendered on a few occasions. Try it with a half-pint of Maker's Mark and let me know how it goes.

I'm not used to seeing eye drops in containers >3 oz (and wouldn't expect larger than that if multiple containers are being brought on a trip). I'd just put them in the quart sized container and then they aren't supposed to have to do any testing.

I use 'single serve' eye drops on occasion. Those things CAN'T be resealed, but are obviously <<3oz, so I'd have them in my quart bag. If they had to open them, it's as good as confiscating them.

Ridiculous. They are medical, he has a prescription, and opening them limits the life. AND they are violating the sterility of something that goes into your EYE. Definitely escalate!

I've never seen them randomly test people's drinks on the sterile side. I have, however, seen a TSO go ballistic on a poor, unsuspecting passenger who had their own water bottle filled during a gate check. Apparently the concept of filling your empty bottle at a water fountain is foreign to them, as they wanted to know how the bottle had made it through security before making the usual "I'll remember you" threat and confiscating the bottle.

For the record, it was a 32 oz. Nalgene. Very nice bottle. Makes you wonder if the TSO was going hiking that weekend.

Ever seen a TSA employee who looked capable of "hiking?"

I haven't.

For my eyedrops TSA person held a strip over the opening then put what looked like water on the strip, nothing was put in my eye drops.

^

Not a chance in Satan's realm would I let a TSO open my sealed meds let alone
stick something in it that could contaminate it. I would be screaming for a supervisor.

I would have demaned a three striper before letting them take it. I always take one of my Camelbak bottles and have never had an issue. On my last flight the TSA was playing the gate check game (before boarding I only saw them pull aside a big chested blonde and a black Muslim guy. Imaging that :rolleyes:) and walked by three of them carrying my full bottle in plain sight without them even blinking. On another trip I asked one of them that was standing around (again imagine that) if there was a nearby fountain so I didn't have to walk all the back down by the restrooms to fill it. To my surprised he pointed one out that was semi-hidden that I had walked by and missed. Maybe I've just been lucky.

Our test equipment does not require actually touching the liquid, so there is no reason to put a drop of it anywhere, it can remain in its container.

Just because you say it’s a medicine does not give it a free pass. Could be any kind of liquid in the bottle, and “factory seals” can be fakes. Testing is the best option available at the checkpoint.

Even if the testing destroys the item being tested?

I will repeat here what I have already stated: There is no test strip that can detect peroxides in the air above a liquid flask. Methodologically it is simply unavailable (and I state this as a professional).

ETD of swabs on the outside of a flask could detect peroxides, but not test strips waved in the air. That is pure security theater.

Yes, because 99.9999999% of people are carrying contraband aboard an aircraft. Can't wait until TSA kills a diabetic in-flight by ruining their insulin or something.

Does anyone in the TSA even have a risk-management background?

Or just stealing it.

Or anything remotely relevant?

Don't confuse TSO's with facts. It makes their heads hurt.

Hardly. Facts don't bother them, because they simply deny reason.

Sorry, but you can't fight terrorism with facts and science. You need magic.

Such as?

Believe what you like, no one here is going to stop you. I have used the strips and can say as a professional that they work just fine. Peroxides are the easiest to detect, some others not so much.

You might want to look over the link. I have used this one several times, its an interesting little device that worked but didn’t quite meet TSA’s needs.

Here is another one that is in use in many airports, read that link as well. Its always nice to have the facts available.

Here are some others:
http://www.plexsci.com/products/dete...ection/dropex/
http://spie.org/x86552.xml
http://www.xplosafe.com/national-security.html

And these are just a few, not a comprehensive list at all.

The proof has been provided for you. Its common technology that utilizes liquid vapors of the different chemicals. You “might” want to rethink your “professional opinion” just a bit and do some more research.

Did you read the information in the links you provided? The vapor detection, i.e., contactless, systems do not indicate that they can test for peroxide. The systems that can test for peroxide all describe dropping the liquid on a strip or other testing mechanism, i.e., contacting the liquid. So, what "proof" has been provided to show Bubba is incorrect?

Opening a factory sealed container will trigger a (usually) 30day expiration. If all of the containers are opened so that the test strips can be waived over them then those containers are on their way to being destroyed.

What are your professional credentials for chemical testing?

thank you all for the replies to this thread,
when i next travel to the usa i will ask my doc to give me extra drops and put them in my checked bag, then if they open the ones in my carry on i will be able to tell them to put them in the bin as i will not be using them.

this from tsa site

You must request a visual inspection before the screening process begins; otherwise your medications and supplies will undergo X-ray inspection.
If you would like to take advantage of this option, please have your medication and associated supplies separated from your other property in a separate pouch/bag when you approach the Security Officer at the walk-through metal detector.
Request the visual inspection and hand your medication pouch/bag to the Security Officer.
In order to prevent contamination or damage to medication and associated supplies and/or fragile medical materials, you will be asked at the security checkpoint to display, handle, and repack your own medication and associated supplies during the visual inspection process.Any medication and/or associated supplies that cannot be cleared visually must be submitted for X-ray screening. If you refuse, you will not be permitted to carry your medications and related supplies into the sterile area.
my bold
reading the tsa web site they are wrong to open any medication themselves

As many of us have heard on more than one occasion: "The TSA website is wrong."



Reference 10a.

This device indeed does detect explosive traces in the air. It detects (according to its manufacturer´s specifications) TNT, RDX, PETN and NG. It does not detect peroxides.

I stated "There is no test strip that can detect peroxides in the air above a liquid flask."

This device is neither a test strip nor detects peroxides. My case still stands.

Yes facts: again, not a strip that is waved above a solution. Again, does not detect peroxides (RDX, PETN, TNT, Semtex, TATP, NG, Ammonium Nitrate, Hydrogen Cyanide, Phosgene, SO2, NH3 are listed as detected, as well as some narcotics).

My case still stands.

These are indeed peroxide detection dipstrips. The thing about dipstrips that seems to escape your attention is that they actually require dipping, not waving above a flask.

My case still stands.

I detect peroxides for a living. I have done my research (in actual scientific publications, not company websites, by the way), and your links just provide further evidence that "There is no test strip that can detect peroxides in the air above a liquid flask."

:p

^

Might want to simplify that a bit.

Since hydrogen peroxide is the #1 "eye drops" issue the TSA seems to have, it might be worth pointing out that on decomposition, 2H2O2 -> 2H20 + O2.

A useless test for a "test strip" that would be waved in the air over the container. Even if there was one.

It has been a while, but I don't think your equation is balanced. Wouldn't it be:
4H2O2 -> 2H20 + 2O2
?

Yours doesn't balance. You've got 8O on the left and 6O on the right.

I knew there was a reason that I went into computers and not something that uses organic chemistry.

I doubt your logic will have any affect on our 'esteemed' representative of the TSA.

I suspect that the air waving strip is literally a bit of 'stage magic' pulled from a mentalist handbook. If you thought that such a strip could work, then some concern would show on your face as they 'tested' your peroxide laden latte that you've been pretending to drink etc.

It's all theatre - even to the shills planted in the FT forums.

They get a full 40 hrs of training. Plus they have years of experience with dangerous chemicals at McBurger. Stop dissing them.