Mass Spectrometry Based Personnel Portal Screening System

In this paper we review a new technology for personnel screening of explosives. The detection system consists of an innovative sample collection/concentration portal developed by Sandia National Laboratories and a high-throughput screening, mass spectrometer (MS) system developed by Syagen Technology. The combined personnel screening system is planned for deployment at airports and other high security venues. This paper will focus primarily on the operation of the MS system. The performance criteria on which aviation security screening technologies are judged are accuracy (high detection and low false positive rate), speed and cost. As terrorists become more sophisticated, there will be a need to detect an increasing variety of threats (new explosives, chemical weapons, etc.). Systems must also be sufficiently automated for non-technical security personnel to operate. Acceptable defenses are now being deployed for baggage scanning, including differential X-ray and X-ray tomography. Swipe methods of sampling are also being used for high-touch areas of baggage and other items. Unfortunately these methods are not appropriate for personnel screening. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is the most commonly deployed method for trace detection and personnel portals have been developed based on this technology by Barringer and Ion Track. This paper will focus on the unique benefits of MS for achieving effective screening of personnel for explosives.