Exhibit 5.1


                       Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP


                                  July 12, 2004



Universal Detection Technology
9595 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Ladies/Gentlemen:

     At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8
(the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") to which this letter is attached as Exhibit 5.1
filed by Universal Detection Technology, a California corporation (the
"Company"), in order to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "ACT"), 4,500,000 shares of common stock, no par value per share, of the
Company issuable pursuant to the Company's 2003 Stock Incentive Plan ( the
"SHARES").

     We have examined originals or certified copies of such corporate records of
the Company and other certificates and documents of officials of the Company,
public officials and others as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of this
letter. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of
all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original
documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed and certified or reproduced
copies.

     Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions,
qualifications and limitations set forth hereinafter, we are of the opinion that
when the Registration Statement relating to the Shares has become effective
under the Act, and upon the issuance and sale of the Shares in conformity with
and pursuant to the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, the Shares will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     The opinions and other matters in this letter are qualified in their
entirety and subject to the following:

A.   We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than any
     published constitutions, treaties, laws, rules or regulations or judicial
     or administrative decisions ("LAWS") of the Laws of the State of
     California.

B.   This opinion is limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is
     implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume
     herein no obligation, and hereby disclaim any obligation, to make any
     inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you or any future changes in the
     foregoing or of any fact or circumstances that may hereafter come to our
     attention.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus constituting
a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. We also consent to your filing
copies of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                               Very truly yours,



                               /s/ AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P