1st Detect
We help protect the world by bringing true mass spectrometry to the front lines of security.
1st Detect builds field-ready trace detection systems that identify explosives and narcotics at the point of need. Built on decades of mass spectrometry expertise, our flagship Tracer 1000 puts laboratory-grade precision in the hands of frontline operators. These threats often appear as invisible traces where false alarms waste critical time and missed detections carry catastrophic consequences. Our systems deliver fast, near-zero false-alarm performance, keeping screening moving in high-throughput environments like airports, borders, and mailrooms. With an expandable threat library that adapts to emerging synthetic analogs, 1st Detect provides the molecular certainty required to act decisively when lives depend on accurate identification.
from the blog
The future of Cargo Screening is Mass Spectrometry
Every piece of cargo that takes flight must be screened before it leaves the ground. For aviation cargo security managers, that requirement isn’t optional; it’s law. Yet, for years, compliance has come at a cost. Traditional ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)-based explosive trace detectors have been notorious for false alarms, clogging up screening lines, grounding shipments, and cutting into revenue. When a single alarm can stop a pallet and delay payment, reliability isn’t a convenience; it’s survival.
Product Insight
Proven, Certified, and Ready for the Next Generation of Security
In global aviation security, certification is more than paperwork—it is the foundation of trust. Every airport, checkpoint, and screening facility depends on technologies that have passed the world’s most rigorous testing programs. The 1st Detect Tracer 1000 stands apart as one of the few trace detection systems certified and approved across the leading international authorities.
Certifications
The Future of Explosives and Narcotics Detection is Mass Spectrometry
In global aviation security, certification is more than paperwork. It is the foundation of trust. Every airport, checkpoint, and screening facility depends on technologies that have passed the world’s most rigorous testing programs. The 1st Detect Tracer 1000 stands apart as one of the few trace detection systems certified and approved by the leading international authorities.
ECAC Certified for Passenger & Cargo
TSA Cargo Approved
Application Capabilities
We provide innovative detection systems for trace chemicals in a multitude of applications where precision and reliability are critical for mission success.
Airports
Enhance passenger and baggage screening to detect and prevent the transportation of explosives.
Ports of entry
Strengthen security at seaports and land border crossings by identifying explosives hidden in cargo and vehicles.
Border crossings
Ensure the safety of national borders by detecting and intercepting explosive materials.
Secure buildings
Protect government buildings, corporate offices, and other high-security locations by identifying potential explosive threats.
Public events
Increase security at concerts, sporting events, and other large gatherings by screening attendees for explosive substances.
Military Applications
Support military operations by providing reliable explosive detection in various environments and situations.
World-wide service
Our headquarters is located in Austin, TX, USA, and we have a global network of service providers available to support you, wherever you are.
- Bangladesh
- Belgium
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Latvia
- Netherlands
- Philippines
- Poland
- Romania
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- UK
- USA
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