How Scentinel II™ works
Scentinel II is a high assurance trace detection system designed for organisations that require reliable, defensible results in security critical operations. It is a forensic grade mass spectrometry system delivering rapid, compound specific identification across forensic, security, border, and custodial environments.
The system combines MSA’s thermal desorption sampling interface with a laboratory-grade tandem mass spectrometer, allowing trace residues collected from swabs, sampling media or wide-area search materials to be thermally desorbed, ionised and analysed using highly selective MS/MS methods.
In practical terms, this means that Scentinel II does not simply detect the presence of an ion at a given mass; it can confirm target compounds through precursor/product ion transitions, providing greater chemical specificity and reducing the risk of false alarms from environmental background, consumer products or chemically similar interferents.
While optimised for explosive detection, Scentinel II can also identify illicit drugs, cutting agents, metabolites, and selected chemical warfare agents at sub-nanogram levels. Where required, vapour sampling is also supported.
Typical sample preparation and analysis is completed in under 30 seconds. Fully automatic and ready within 30 minutes, Scentinel II delivers rapid, high specificity compound trace identification with peerless sensitivity and near-zero false indication rates, supporting determinations where accuracy is critical.
Results you can trust
Scentinel II is supported by dedicated software that presents clear, actionable results, reducing operator burden and enabling rapid, informed decision-making. Role-based access control ensures system functions and data are restricted to authorised personnel, while clear, auditable reports and system log files support operational oversight, evidential continuity, and compliance with sector-specific governance requirements.
Where required, the system can be securely networked to enable centralised data storage, monitoring, and authorised remote support. This ensures consistent operation across multiple sites or distributed teams and supports high integrity performance in security critical operations.
Scentinel II provides a high assurance detection capability that integrates seamlessly into forensic, security, border, and custodial environments, supporting intelligence-led search and screening activity with confidence and clarity.
Peerless trace detection — One platform
Triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for peerless accuracy
Proprietary thermal extraction ion source for rapid, real-time analysis
Optional dual gas controller for vapour sample acquisition
The result is a compact, forensic grade mass spectrometry system delivering rapid, compound-specific identification across forensic, security, border, and custodial environments.
Availability that keeps you operational
Scentinel II can be deployed in mobile units, including police and border enforcement vehicles, providing rapid response capability for high assurance search and screening tasks. Its compact, self-contained design enables controlled installation in sensitive or temporary environments.
In forensic, border, or custodial settings, Scentinel II can be installed in centralised processing areas such as mailrooms, search facilities, or secure laboratories. This supports efficient handling of trace and bulk samples while maintaining strict operational protocols and safe management of hazardous materials.
Technology confidence
Mass spectrometry without operational constraints.
As a specialist technical asset, Scentinel II provides laboratory grade confidence to combat increasingly sophisticated concealment methods and the consequences of missed detection. Its sensitivity and specificity support confident, proportionate decision-making across forensic, security, border, and custodial operations.
