Potential of solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography for quarantine-required detection of wood packaging in shipping containers.

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography (GC) was used to detect terpene hydrocarbons inside shipping containers entering New Zealand. The utility of this system for the rapid detection of undeclared wood packaging for quarantine purposes was demonstrated. A portable dynamic air-sampling device was built to house a SPME fibre and allow the air from shipping containers to be sampled.