Explosive Trace Detection
 

Can anybody interpret this ETD result:

I can't interpret but from my observation of TSA ETD practices at DFW yesterday I would suspect the validity of these tests. My bag was pulled for extra screening, the culprit was a ziplock with some candy and cheese crackers. The screener took a used ETD swab and sampled the ziplock bag all while wearing gloves that were potentially already contaminated. I observed the exact same process by a different screener checking a ladies toaster snacks except he tested each wrapped package.

I would at a minimum require the screener to test their gloves for contamination before testing a travelers property and I question reusing test swabs at all.

Edit to add: Just a side note, all the concern over a bag of candy while my CPAP didn't get a seconds notice and my Kippy bag never came out of my bag.

IF you have the presence of mind to do so, you should always require clean gloves and a clean swab before testing anything. Not always easy to do in the face of mass confusion at a checkpoint however.

If anything it shows that the TSA might want to upgrade its printers. This looks like a dot matrix printout from 1985.

Yes, it means someone used hand lotion.

That will be $211,235,386.26 please, TSA. TIA.

Well, when a person is gobsmacked at TSA idiocy some things slip by.

Looks a little like NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) where you get visible peaks at certain values on a spectrum of spin states.
Those peaks might correspond to nitrates, which are common in explosives. Also in food preservatives.
Given that only around 1 set of luggage in 50 million is packed with explosives I think the whole charade is mostly for psychological effect.

https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/305180/

Sigh......grrrrrrr......

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Wonder how long it will take before the TSA Blog lists the miss like they do the finds?

TSA officer at Texas airport missed loaded gun, according to police reports

Interesting, and admirable, reaction by the passenger. If that were to happen to me (I own no firearms), I casually leave the secure area and deal with it elsewhere.

If for some reason my firearm makes it to the TSA line without my knowledge I will consider it a supreme act of self stupidity, beg for mercy and consider the lost firearm a stupid tax. Any resolution that does not include a huge fine or jail time would be more than I deserve.

I don't know why people feel the need to self-incriminate when they make it through a TSA checkpoint with something? The simplest thing would have been for the guy to leave the secure area, go back to his car, hide the gun somewhere inside, and go through security again. Now, he runs the risk of a punitive TSA administrative fine. But, the good news is that it got a TSA clerk fired.

It was interesting that they fired the clerk instantly while sexual assaulters go unpunished. I guess he got fired for embarrassing the TSA.

The screener is a government employee with union representation. Unless this person was in a probation period I wouldn't be to confident they stay fired.

Do we know he was fired instantly? This incident happened in June and we are just now learning of it.