TSO Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When swabbing a carry-on bag for ETD analysis, which areas should a TSO focus on?
- Only the exterior zippers and seams
- Only the interior bottom lining of the bag
- Interior and exterior surfaces, especially handles and frequently touched areas (Correct answer)
- The manufacturer's identification label inside the bag
Correct answer: Interior and exterior surfaces, especially handles and frequently touched areas
ETD swabbing of bags should cover both interior and exterior surfaces, focusing on handles and frequently touched areas where residue is most likely to accumulate.
Question 2: ETD machines analyze collected swab samples using which primary detection technology?
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) (Correct answer)
- Ultrasonic frequency scanning
- Infrared thermal imaging
Correct answer: Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)
Most ETD equipment used by TSA employs ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), which identifies explosive compounds by analyzing the mobility of ionized particles from the swab sample.
Question 3: TSOs performing ETD screening must wear nitrile gloves primarily to:
- Prevent their own skin residue from contaminating swab samples (Correct answer)
- Protect themselves from electrical hazards in the ETD equipment
- Comply with OSHA heat protection requirements at the checkpoint
- Maintain a professional appearance during passenger interaction
Correct answer: Prevent their own skin residue from contaminating swab samples
Nitrile gloves prevent the TSO's own skin residue — which may include lotions, fertilizers, or other interfering substances — from contaminating ETD swab samples.
Question 4: If an ETD machine displays a calibration or maintenance error during checkpoint operations, the TSO should:
- Continue using the machine until the end of the shift
- Notify a supervisor and remove the machine from service per TSA SOPs (Correct answer)
- Manually clear the error by restarting the device without authorization
- Switch to pat-down only and ignore the error until the next shift
Correct answer: Notify a supervisor and remove the machine from service per TSA SOPs
Equipment malfunctions must be reported to a supervisor and the machine taken out of service per TSA SOPs to preserve the integrity and accuracy of security screening.
Question 5: A passenger selected for ETD screening refuses to comply. What should the TSO do?
- Forcibly conduct the ETD swabbing regardless of the refusal
- Allow the passenger to proceed since ETD participation is optional
- Offer a handheld metal detector scan as a complete substitute
- Inform the passenger that refusal prevents boarding and notify a supervisor (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Inform the passenger that refusal prevents boarding and notify a supervisor
Passengers who refuse required security screening cannot proceed to the boarding area, and the TSO must notify a supervisor to handle the escalated situation.
Question 6: ETD positive alarm resolution procedures typically include which of the following?
- Immediate confiscation of all passenger belongings without further checks
- Additional screening such as a pat-down and thorough bag search (Correct answer)
- Automatic denial of boarding without any further investigation
- Re-running the same original swab sample a second time as the sole action
Correct answer: Additional screening such as a pat-down and thorough bag search
Resolution screening after a positive ETD alarm typically involves additional measures such as a pat-down and thorough search of belongings to determine the source of the alarm.
Question 7: When conducting ETD screening on a laptop computer, the TSO should primarily swab:
- The battery compartment on the underside only
- The screen surface and display frame
- The underside and rubber feet of the laptop exclusively
- The keyboard and surfaces frequently touched by the user's hands (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The keyboard and surfaces frequently touched by the user's hands
The keyboard and hand-contact surfaces of a laptop are the primary ETD swabbing areas because that is where residue from the user's hands is most likely to be transferred.
TSO Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) Procedures 2
When swabbing a carry-on bag for ETD analysis, which areas should a TSO focus on?