The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) early in August pilot tested Morpho Detection’s MobileTrace and Hardened MobileTrace handheld explosives trace detection system with Transportation Security Officers at a Greyhound bus station, ferry and cruise ship terminals in New Orleans. MobileTrace, which can also detect narcotics, can collect samples using swabs or in vapor mode. In the week long pilot the TSOs used swabs to collect samples from people, their belongings and vehicles. TSA is examining portable explosive trace detectors as it prepares for a procurement of about 800 of the systems using $39 million it expects to receive in FY ’11. The Hardened MobileTrace is a ruggedized version of the system that has a protective housing that protects it if dropped or used in harsh weather. MobileTrace is lightweight and comes with two batteries that allow it to be operated for up to eight hours at a time. Results are produced in about eight seconds. Morpho Detection is part of the Safran Group.