CPT 3000v3
An EMV personalisation verification tool. Insert a single card and it checks the chip and magnetic stripe issuance data against the issuer profile and the scheme specifications, returning a pass or fail. Its purpose differs from terminal-side EMV Level 2 kernel testing: this is quality assurance for card issuance.
The testing problems this solves
CPT 3000v3 addresses the card issuance and personalisation stage. Before cards ship, it confirms that the issuance data written to the chip and the magnetic stripe matches the issuer profile and the scheme specifications. Systematic testing removes the gaps, reliance on individuals and lack of reproducibility that tend to appear at this stage.
Scope of verification
Insert a single card and the chip and magnetic stripe issuance data is checked against the issuer profile and the scheme specifications.
| Aspect | Coverage |
|---|---|
| What is verified | Personalisation data in the chip; magnetic stripe data; and consistency with the information printed on the card |
| Checked against | The issuer card profile, the EMV specifications, and international and domestic scheme specifications |
| Faults it detects | Mismatch between Track 2 Equivalent Data and the magnetic Track 2; malformed AIP, AFL, CDOL or DDOL; inconsistent PAN sequence number or expiry date; wrong tag length, data format or missing mandatory tags; and AIDs that do not match the profile |
| Data authentication | SDA / DDA / CDA (RSA) |
| Keys and certificates | Public key sets for Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and others; import of additional public keys; and data relating to the CA Public Key Index and the issuer public key |
| Verification that uses private keys | ARQC, issuer authentication and secure messaging require the Host Simulation Module or a connection to an HSM |
| Multiple applications | Several applications on the same card |
| Interface | Contact (ISO/IEC 7816) and magnetic stripe |
Supported terminals and environments
Intended for use in the card issuance and personalisation process. The profiles and specification versions supported are confirmed at quotation.
Example test configuration and licences
These configurations and licence names are examples based on public information. Current SKUs, the hardware options required and specification versions are confirmed at quotation.
| Category | Example |
|---|---|
| Protocol | Frames, state transitions and error handling |
From the Barnes International range. Some entries derive from an older configuration table, so current SKUs are confirmed at quotation.
Main functions
| Multi-application verification | A single card insertion rapidly verifies issuance data for one or several applications across chip and magnetic stripe. The account number and the issue and expiry dates are displayed, so the embossing can also be checked visually |
|---|---|
| Diagnostics and reporting | A pass or fail indication with detailed logs — Details Tree, Engineering Log and Test Report — and hyperlinks into the EMV and scheme specifications so problems can be located immediately |
| Security and key management | PCI-aligned masking, logout and user control. SDA, DDA, CDA and RSA are supported. Public key sets for Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Discover are included, and further keys can be imported from a key management system |
| Operational features | Define your own data requirements with QuickTest profiles; run over a network with central management of scripts, profiles, keys and reports; and test remotely, evaluating and approving without shipping sample cards |
| Platforms | The current generation is CPT v4. Version 4.3.1, of May 2026, added log retention settings, automatic saving of results and improved CSV export. It is sold alongside the existing CPT 3000v3 range |
Readers supported and operating environment
| Card readers | Barnes 3K7, a motorised triple interface reader covering magnetic stripe, contact and contactless; 3R1 for metal and titanium cards; 60H with a hopper for batch testing, up to 60 cards; 3K3 for magnetic stripe, JIS and contact; PC/SC-compatible readers; and SWP readers |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7 / 10 / 11 (32/64bit) |
Features for volume production and inspection
Features intended for use in card manufacturing and personalisation.
| Function | Detail |
|---|---|
| User access control | Separate permissions for operators, engineers and administrators |
| Batch Test | Continuous inspection of multiple cards, with up to 60 inspected automatically using the Barnes 60H batch reader |
| Event Logging | Records of operations and inspections |
| PCI-aligned display control | Masking of the PAN and similar data, logout, and control over reports |
| QuickTest | Simple configuration of the issuer's own inspection conditions |
| Result Summary | A pass or fail indication for production operators |
| Detailed Result Tree | Verification results at data element level |
| Engineering Log | Detailed examination of APDUs, data and the causes of errors |
| Network Capability | Central management of scripts, keys, profiles and reports across several units |
| Remote Testing | An arrangement for evaluating cards remotely, without shipping samples |
Choosing between the CPT and CAT series
CPT checks whether a card matches a defined specification; CAT lets you develop the checking logic itself. The certification modules are additional software that runs on CPT or CAT, not standalone products.
| Product | Main role | Interfaces covered | Custom script development |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPT 3000v3 | PVT for contact EMV cards and magnetic stripe | Contact IC and magnetic stripe | Generally none; QuickTest settings are used instead |
| CPT 3000v3CL | PVT including contactless and dual interface | Contact, contactless, magnetic stripe and NFC devices | Generally none |
| CPT 3000v3ML | Verification of mobile payment and SIM/UICC | NFC, SWP, contact and contactless | Generally none |
| CAT 3000v3 / CL / ML | CPT functionality plus custom test script development | Depends on the configuration | Yes (Tcl) |
| Certification test modules | Scheme-specific PVT and certification testing | Through modules | Defined by the scheme |
| G2V2 Tachograph Card Test Tool | Verification of digital and smart tachograph cards | ISO/IEC 7816 contact | — |
Platform generations (v3 and v4)
Please confirm this at procurement. According to Barnes support information, the current core version of CPT 3000v3 and CAT 3000v3 is 3.71.0 (31 March 2026), and for CPT v4 it is 4.3.1.239 (15 May 2026). The v3 line continues to receive current versions for the Visa Europe Self-Service and other scheme certification modules and for quality control. The Mastercard, Visa Global Self-Service, JCB and Discover certification modules, however, are provided on CPT v4. Supported modules, library versions and certification schemes are re-confirmed at the time of deployment.
| Situation | What we recommend |
|---|---|
| You are continuing to inspect existing cards on an installed CPT 3000v3 | Continuing maintenance on v3 may be possible |
| New deployment | In principle CPT v4 should be considered first |
| You use an older module for a particular scheme | We check v3 compatibility case by case |
| The latest Visa or Mastercard self-certification | This configuration is likely to require v4 |
| You have existing custom CAT scripts | We check whether migration to v4 is possible, Tcl compatibility, and conversion cost |
| You own a reader dedicated to v3CL or v3ML | We check whether it can be reused with v4 |
Buying the base unit does not by itself enable certification for every scheme. The base unit, the CL and ML functions, the scheme modules, Host Simulation, the HSM connection, the reader, and maintenance and script updates may each be a separate licence or option. For new proposals we recommend v4 as the base platform, with the required modules configured individually.
Example configurations
Which elements you need depends on the use case. At quotation we always confirm the interface scope of the reader and the licences.
| Use | Components |
|---|---|
| Standard configuration for EMV cards | CPT v4 or CPT 3000v3, a Barnes 3K7 Triple Interface Reader, the PVT scripts for the schemes concerned, the certification module for those schemes, and annual maintenance with script updates |
| Configuration including cryptographic verification | The above plus the Host Simulation Module and issuer keys, or the HSM Interface and the HSM concerned |
| Developing your own card application | CAT 3000v3CL or its successor, Tcl Script Development, contact and contactless readers, and Host Simulation or an HSM if required |
| Mobile and UICC | The ML configuration of CPT or CAT, an SWP reader, an NFC reader, real handsets, and the mobile scheme scripts concerned |
| Tachograph card | The G2V2 Tachograph Card Test Tool, an ISO/IEC 7816 reader, the G1, G2V1 and G2V2 test suites, the licence for the card types concerned, test certificates and key sets, and an HSM if required |
Where it is used
- Setting up card issuance and QC verification for a new development
- Regression after a configuration change or update
- Coverage checks ahead of certification
Relationship to certification
What this product performs is a conformance check on the issued card. It can be used for pre-certification testing before submission to the scheme, but passing here does not guarantee passing formal certification.