Key Points
- At the ASMS conference, BaySpec scientist Krisztian Torma presented field test results from the VaporID system, which successfully detected trace levels of fentanyl and other drugs at the U.S.–Mexico border without needing surface contact.
- Developed under the leadership of Robert Ewing, a senior research chemist at PNNL with over 20 years of expertise in IMS and MS, VaporID leverages ion-molecule chemistry at atmospheric pressure to enhance sensitivity and selectivity in drug detection.
- In a recent interview, Ewing detailed how VaporID differs from traditional IMS systems, the challenges in creating a portable, microwave-sized version of the device, and how this technology could impact both drug discovery and national security efforts.
At the American Society of Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) conference in Baltimore, Maryland, BaySpec (San Jose, California) scientist Krisztian Torma presented the latest results from the VaporID system, which was deployed in a field test at the U.S.–Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona. In collaboration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the system demonstrated an ability to detect trace amounts of fentanyl as well as other drugs (1).
The VaporID system was initially developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) by a team led by Robert Ewing, senior research chemist, a project manager, and technical team leader for the Chemistry and Materials team (1). Recently, we sat down with Ewing to talk about the VaporID’s ability to detect trace amounts of drugs without touching the surface, and how this can impact drug discovery and border security moving forward.
Robert Ewing has over 20 years of experience as an analytical chemist, specializing in trace detection of explosives, drugs, and chemical weapon materials. He has held positions at several institutions, including Edgewood Chemical and Biological Command, Idaho National Laboratory, and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (2). Since 2006, Ewing has been with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).
Ewing’s expertise lies in ion-molecule chemistry at atmospheric pressure, particularly as it relates to ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and mass spectrometry (MS). His fundamental research has improved the sensitivity and selectivity of IMS and MS technologies, expanding their applications in security and detection fields (2). His work has resulted in 39 peer-reviewed publications, numerous national and international presentations, and four patents.
Ewing’s experience spans from basic scientific research to applied development, testing, and field deployment of analytical instruments. He has collaborated with private companies on commercial instrumentation and trained others in its use, demonstrating leadership beyond laboratory research (2). Ewing is also a former chemistry professor and past president of the International Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry (2).
In the first part of a three-part interview, Ewing discusses the core technology behind the VaporID system, explains how the system differs from current IMS systems, and describes the challenges the team faced in miniaturizing the VaporID device into a portable, microwave-sized system.
References
- Wetzel, W. PNNL and BaySpec Launch Compact Mass Spectrometry System for Rapid Narcotics Detection. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/pnnl-and-bayspec-launch-compact-mass-spectrometry-system-for-rapid-narcotics-detection (accessed 2025-07-08).
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Robert G. Ewing. PNNL.gov. Available at: https://www.pnnl.gov/people/robert-g-ewing (accessed 2025-07-08).
