What happens when positive for bomb residue?

Mommee

Mommee

DIS Veteran
Joined
Feb 8, 2010
we are in the world right now; heading home via MCO tomorrow. On our way here, my daughter's bottle of prescription liquid Zantac set off the scanners. They took it off to the side and swabbed it, and also got a positive there. They called over someone else to do more tests, but were unable to clear it.

They asked us who it belonged to and what is for, held a little pow wow and sent us on our way. As this was a little airport, I'm betting that this could go a completely different way if the same thing happens at MCO.
I'd like my daughter to be prepared, but I don't know what to prepare her for (she's 8). What do they normally do in a situation like this? Is allowing them to throw out the bottle and send us on our way an option? She's due for a refill soon anyway.
 
Same thing.

You could always wash the bottle, or perhaps just out the pills into a baggie or something like that.

MCO TSA people are abrupt and rude (more so than any other airport I've been through) but they aren't monsters. Also, a recent discussion brought up the fact that if you're standing where fireworks residue can shower down, you could test positive because of that. They know there are fireworks in orlando. :)
 
I'll bet at MCO this will go just fine. Because of all the people that fly out of MCO they see a lot more varied stuff and no doubt have encountered this before.
 
bumbershoot said:
Same thing.

You could always wash the bottle, or perhaps just out the pills into a baggie or something like that.

....
Click to expand...

This is a liquid prescription, not pills.

Why was the bottle swabbed in the first place? If it was random, chances are it won't happen on the way home. I wouldn't spend any time worrying about this.
 


I tested positive for residue at MCO in December. I wear ankle braces so don't take off my shoes and then they always swab them. They did a pat-down and completely unloaded my bags. They were rude about the whole thing but I have come to expect that unfortunately. The main issue I had was trying to prevent the agent from damaging my cameras that were packed in the bag. Lots of things can set the scanners off most notably hand cream / lotion. If you do set off the scanners for any reason, discarding the item and going on your way will NOT be an option until after they complete their search. In theory, the scanners will not trigger on black powder residue so fireworks residue shouldn't be too big a concern.
 
Our car seat tested "positive" for residue in a airport in NY. They then told me they needed to do a full body search on me and needed to go thru all my carry-ons. It was annoying
and we were the last on the plane because of the delay but I just told them do whatever you have to do, so I didn't have to miss the plane.
 


lost*in*cyberspace said:
This is a liquid prescription, not pills.
Click to expand...

Missed the liquid part.

Wash the bottle. Get another bottle and pour it into it. Or dump it.


DH has tested positive while leaving Mexico City, and they didn't do anything. What they do after testing positive is the wild card. Some get searched, some move on.
 
I don't know about bumbershoot and Mexico....

BUT...if there is a positive for explosives at any airport in the U.S., the procedure is that the person with the item will be completely searched. All luggage, all clothing, patted down, swabbed and forced to sing the Star Spangled Banner (well, maybe not sing).

While I think the whole thing is theater, if someone tests positive for explosives, they NEED to be completely checked.
 
Thank you all for your experiences. I went ahead and called the pharmacy and they'll have a new bottle waiting for us when I get home. I'm not going to risk putting her through that if I don't have to so the bottle won't go with us.
 
Did you bring luggage? Can't you pack the bottle in your luggage? I know you shouldn't pack prescription drugs in your luggage, but since she'll have a prescription waiting for her at home...
 
My uncle tested positive once at TPA. He had been at the gun range earlier that day. He was pulled into a room and searched and intertogated. My aunt was taken to a separate room to wait and she was also questioned. They are in their 70's. Just barely made their flight and that was only because they were early to the airport so they could grab a bite to eat.

Gun owners, don't go to the range the day of your flight!
 
I'm curious as to why it tested positive. What is on Zantac that would trigger?

Back in 2010 at MCO they were randomly testing water bottles while in line to board the plane. I thought this was absurd since this was during the time when ALL drinks were purchased IN the airport. I ended up throwing my water bottle away. I didn't want to drink out of it after they swabbed it with whatever chemical is in their swabs.
 
My mother (89 yo at the time) tested positive at TPA. She was in the airport wheelchair. Three of us were with her. None of the rest of us tested positive, and she was with us the whole time! None of us was at a gun range, at fireworks, etc. Anyway, I was livid (silently), but kept my cool, talked to them, told them she was with us the entire time, etc. Eventually they let us go. I was not a happy camper. We never figured out what made her test positive. It made no sense whatsoever. She hadn't used hand cream or anything, used the same deodorant she always uses, etc. Crazy. Makes me almost want to never go through TPA again, but, alas, we're going to try it again in 2 months.
 
Mommee said:
The scanner that your carry-ons go through was set off by it.
Click to expand...

Did you leave it in your carry-on when it went through the xray machine? If so, that's why your bag was pulled and searched and they tested the bottle. You should always remove these types of items (liquid prescription drugs) and put them in a separate tray. If you did this and it was tested, then chances are it won't happen again. You are worrying for nothing.
 
Is the Zantac prescribed by a doctor? Have a note the next time you travel. Perhaps also photocopy the prescription? If was in your situation.... I would show up earlier (30 minutes?) for a potential secondary search (additional testing) to minimize stress.

There's a few other products that set off security scanners as it has similar density or behaviours as the dangerous stuff. Some are used to test scanners without using the real thing.

I carry a lot of electronics and cause some delays as they want to swab my equipment for testing. It's a 10 second delay. I wear steel-toes that will set off metal detectors, I gladly remove my shoes for belt scanning to minimize delays.
 
xlxo said:
Is the Zantac prescribed by a doctor? Have a note the next time you travel. Perhaps also photocopy the prescription? If was in your situation.... I would show up earlier (30 minutes?) for a potential secondary search (additional testing) to minimize stress.

There's a few other products that set off security scanners as it has similar density or behaviours as the dangerous stuff. Some are used to test scanners without using the real thing.

I carry a lot of electronics and cause some delays as they want to swab my equipment for testing. It's a 10 second delay. I wear steel-toes that will set off metal detectors, I gladly remove my shoes for belt scanning to minimize delays.
Click to expand...

Forget the note . TSA won't accept it. Anyone can forge a doctor note.
 
I have to travel with medical liquids that exceed the 3-1-1 rule, so I keep them separate from my normal 3-1-1 bag. At the beginning of the security screening line, and then again at the start of the x-ray line if I can, I ask if I should put the medical liquids in the grey bin or just leave them in the carryon (I have a separate carryon that is JUST for medical items, is labeled as such, and does not count against my carryon allowance). I get different answers -- most want them in the bin, some say to leave them in the carry-on. I do as directed. I keep them in a sealed bag(s) to (1) contain leaks should they occur (so far that has not happened; and (2) protect them from surfaces like the grey bins or the table at the swabbing station that they may have to go on to.

No matter which I do, about 80% of the time, they will pull the medical liquids and inspect them, then swab them (I always ask them to please change their gloves before handling the bottles, and the swabber pad before using that; a few times the security screener has done both without me even having to ask). Sometimes one or more bottles will get put through another scanning device they have, which is a newer device. Very occasionally they will pull over and consult with security people (sometimes just one, sometimes more than one), and/or sometimes ask me questions about what the items are/what they are for, before letting me and my stuff go. Sometimes while they are at it they will swab my laptop or electronics, and even my hands; but for me the medical liquids are what get swabbed the most.

Because I know it will take longer to get through security, I always leave plenty of time. My travelling companions get to sit and wait for me at the secure side because they are always done way before I am.

One thing I have found that helps is keeping things in their original bottles. Original manufacturer labels make it easier for the screeners to know what the contents are supposed to be. If it is an Rx med, having the pharmacy label on it helps further.

-SW
 
I had borrowed a piece of my mother's luggage as a carry on. I ended up testing positive on its handles. She used nitro glycerine and residue was on the handle. I was trying to save time with a carry on and ended up almost missing the flight.
I never left her near my packing after that.
 
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