Astrotech Corporation (NASDAQ: ASTC) announced that its 1st Detect TRACER 1000 system received European Civil Aviation Conference certification for wand swabbing, enabling use in passenger and cargo screening at aviation security operations.

The certification covers wand-based sampling that allows checkpoint operators to collect trace samples from passengers and cargo without direct contact. The system meets the ECAC Explosives Detection Standard and Standard G1 under Concept of Operations Revision 38.

"Wand swabbing certification extends our TRACER 1000 customer base to include airports that require wand swabbing," said Tom Pickens, chairman and CEO of Astrotech Corporation. "We believe our technology allows for a less intrusive method of passenger testing, while also reducing bottlenecks, allowing airports to process more passengers without sacrificing security stringency."

The TRACER 1000 is a mass spectrometry solution currently deployed in 16 countries worldwide. The system provides molecular identification in environments where no-touch collection is operationally required.

1st Detect, based in Austin, Texas, operates as a subsidiary of Astrotech Corporation. The company develops, manufactures, and sells trace detectors for security and detection markets. Its product line includes the TRACER 1000 ETD and TRACER 1000 NTD systems.

Astrotech Corporation operates as an instrumentation company that creates and scales businesses through wholly owned subsidiaries. Beyond 1st Detect, the company's subsidiaries include AgLAB, which designs process analyzers for biomass essential oils, Pro-Control, which produces gas chromatography solutions, and EN-SCAN, which delivers portable environmental testing equipment.

The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and evaluates opportunities to develop technologies for space, defense, industrial, and related markets. This information comes from a company press release statement.