TSA Chemical Swab Test False Positive

I’ve written before of how I’m on the “random” SSSS list and so get extra security every time I fly. What I forgot to bring up in that discussion was how once I accidentally set off TSA’s Chemical Swab Test using Explosive Trace Detection (or Explosive Detection System aka EDS) to find explosive residue on your person or belongings.

It was like any other travel day for me. I was getting my usual extra “random” security, and automatically presented my hands to be tested with their chemical swab. But this time it beeped, and the female TSA agent checked the machine. “Sorry, just need to do it again.” I didn’t mind, I always was way early to the airport so I had time. After running it through the machine it beeped again. The agent looked at me, and told me to move to a special area for more testing.

“Its coming up positive.” She said, looking at little old me. I was slightly shocked…but more I was curious. I knew I hadn’t been around explosives, so I wasn’t worried. I was interested in what would happen next. Next was having them open my bags for a through search. They asked if I had been near any farms or been near actual explosives. I cooperated fully and answered their questions. I was surprised as they were that I was testing positive. They swabbed my bags all over, and then me again. (Since I already had a full pat down as part of the SSSS that was waved.) After it beeped a 3rd time, again for only my hands, the female agent asked if I had anything on them.

Now normally I hate body lotion, due to years of thick amounts of sunscreen being applied to my body, that greasy feeling is awful. But for whatever reason (as I should have learned from the last time I did that), I took a long bath before heading to the airport and put on moisturizing hand lotion for the first time before traveling.

So I responded with “Hand Lotion” and the female agent just smiled at me. “Some hand lotions contain Glycerine, which will give a false positive for this test. Since nothing else on you is testing positive your free to go.” Huh I thought as I made my way to the gate. I have then made sure only to wash my hands with water and glycerine-free soap before traveling from here on in.

Some things that can cause a false positive during the screening process that contain Glycerine or Nitrates: