A device is provided for testing a pressure drop across a cigarette filter rod (40). The device includes an expansible sleeve (13) for encapsulating a filter rod and a two stage vacuum pump (20) connected thereto. A first controllable valve (25) connects the outer surface of the sleeve to the vacuum pump to expand the sleeve (13) so that a filter rod can be inserted. The first controllable valve (25) also connects the end (15) of the sleeve to the vacuum pump so that a measurable pressure drop is created across the filter rod. A second controllable valve (26) is connected between an exhaust port (23b) of the vacuum pump and the end of the sleeve so that, after the testing has been completed, the filter rod will be ejected from the sleeve. The pressure testing device is thus self contained and does not require an external source of vacuum or compressed air.
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