This podcast discusses new standards for testing metal detectors, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These standards aim to improve accuracy and efficiency in testing by replacing inconsistent human testers with robots and standardised test objects, such as spheres of various sizes and materials. The use of spheres ensures consistency in testing results, regardless of the orientation of the object being scanned. The standards, which cover walk-through, hand-held, and hand-worn metal detectors, have been published by the ASTM International standards organisation, and they are expected to shorten testing times and ultimately lower costs for manufacturers and users.