Priority Action Report

Seized Drugs Subcommittee

SAC Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis

Sandra E. Rodriguez-Cruz, Ph.D. – Chair

February 14, 2017
Subcommittee Leadership

2

Position Name Organization Term Email

Chair Sandra E. 

Rodriguez-Cruz, Ph.D.

Drug Enforcement 

Administration 5 Sandra.E.Rodriguez-Cruz@usdoj.gov

Vice Chair David K. Gouldthorpe

Las Vegas 

Metropolitan Police 

Department Forensic 

Laboratory 

3 d13317g@lvmpd.com

Executive 

Secretary Agnes D. Winokur Drug Enforcement Administration 5 Agnes.D.Winokur@usdoj.gov
Subcommittee Members

3

# Name Organization Term Email

4 Jason Bory US Customs and Border 

Protection 4 jason.bory@dhs.gov

5 Thomas A. Brettell, Ph.D. Cedar Crest College 3 Tabrette@cedarcrest.edu

6 Claire M. Dragovich DuPage County Forensic 

Science Center 4 claire.dragovich@dupagesheriff.org

7 Thomas J. Gluodenis Jr., Ph.D. Agilent Technologies 3 tom_gluodenis@agilent.com

8 Glen P. Jackson, Ph.D. West Virginia University 3 glen.jackson@mail.wvu.edu

9 David J. Koppenhaver Virginia Department of Forensic 

Science 3 david.koppenhaver@dfs.virginia.gov

10 Elzbieta “Ella” Kubicz , Ph.D. Wyoming State Crime 

Laboratory 4 ella.kubicz@wyo.gov

11 Benny J. Lum Broward County Sheriff’s Office 

Crime Laboratory 4 benny_lum@sheriff.org

12 Gina Nano

University of Massachusetts 

Medical School, Drugs of Abuse 

Laboratory

3 gina.nano@umassmed.edu
Subcommittee Members

4

# Name Organization Term Email

13 Jason Nawyn US Defense Forensic Science Center 3 jason.r.nawyn.civ@mail.mil

14 Liqiang Ni, Ph.D. University of Central Florida 2 Liqiang.Ni@ucf.edu

15 Tiffany A. Ribadeneyra Nassau County Office of the Medical 

Examiner 3 tribadeneyra@nassaucountyny.gov

16 Charlene Rittenbach North Dakota Office of Attorney 

General Crime Laboratory 3 crittenbach@nd.gov

17 Sandra B. Sachs, Ph.D. Oakland Police Department 

Criminalistics Laboratory 5 ssachs@oaklandnet.com

18 Amanda Shanbaum Illinois State Police 3 Amanda_Shanbaum@isp.state.il.us

19 Annie Smith Kentucky State Police 3 annm.smith@ky.gov

20 Ruth Smith, Ph.D. Michigan State University 2 rwaddellsmith@gmail.com
Affiliates

5

# Name Organization Email

1 Christian C. Matchett US Defense Forensic Science Center christian.c.matchett2.civ@mail.mil

2 Richard A. Paulas Illinois State Police rapaulas@gmail.com

3 Garth Glassburg Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime 

Laboratory gglassburg@nircl.org
Discipline Description

The Seized Drugs Subcommittee will 

focus on standards and guidelines 

related to the examination of evidence 

to identify drugs and related 

substances.

6
Summary of Priority Projects

Priority Working Title of Document

1 E2548-11 Standard Guide for Sampling Seized Drugs for 

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

2 E2327-15 Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of 

Laboratories Performing Seized-Drug Analysis

3 E2882-12 Standard Guide for Analysis of Clandestine 

Drug Laboratory Evidence

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Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document

Document Title: E2548-11 Standard Guide for Sampling Seized 

Drugs for Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

Scope: Covers minimum considerations regarding the sampling of 

seized-drug evidence prior to analysis

Rationale: By developing sampling strategies and implementing 

appropriate sampling schemes, laboratories will minimize the 

number of units requiring analysis while at the same time 

ensuring that all relevant legal and scientific requirements are 

met.

Issues/Concerns: - Incorrect application of sampling approaches

- Incorrect population inferences

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Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

•Establishes minimum criteria for laboratory 

sampling procedures

•Discusses different sampling issues:

• Statistical vs non-statistical

• Statutory limits and jurisdictions

• Population inferences

9
Task Group/Subcommittee Action Plan

Planned Actions OSAC Process 

Stage Assignee

Estimated

Completion 

Date

Public appeals process RA-1800

FSSB

Registry forms & approval to QIC RA-2000 Spring 2017

OSAC Registry of Approved Standards RA-2100 QIC

Priority 1: Sampling Seized Drugs

10

* A revised version of this document (E2548-16) is available from SDO
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Document

Document Title: E2327-15 Standard Practice for Quality Assurance 

of Laboratories Performing Seized-Drug Analysis

Scope: Covers quality assurance issues in forensic laboratories 

performing drug analysis

Objective: To be used by forensic analysts and supported by 

laboratory management

Goal: To provide a framework of quality in the processing of drug 

evidence

Task Group Name: Quality Assurance (QA)

Technical Contact: Tiffany Ribadeneyra

Technical Contact Information: tribadeneyra@nassaucountyny.gov

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 2016

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Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

• Evidence handling

• Analytical procedures

• Report writing

• Method validation

• Documentation

• Proficiency testing

• Audits

• Health and safety

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Planned Actions OSAC Process 

Stage Assignee EstimatedCompletion Date

SAC Review & Vote RA-200/300

SAC

Spring 2017

Notice of Intent & 

Public Comment Period RA-400/500

RC Review & Comments RA-600 RC

Comments Adjudication RA-700 Seized Drugs Summer 2017

13

Task Group/Subcommittee Action Plan

Priority 2: Quality Assurance
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 3 Document

Document Title: E2882-12 Standard Guide for Analysis of 

Clandestine Drug Laboratory Evidence

Scope: Provides guidance on the chemical analysis of items and 

samples related to suspected clandestine laboratories

Objective: To ensure selected analytical schemes are fit for purpose 

and provide reliable results

Issues: - Understanding of clandestine synthetic routes

- CL analysis may require non-routine approaches

14

Task Group Name: Clandestine Lab Analysis

Technical Contact: Christian Matchett (affiliate)

Technical Contact Information: christian.c.matchett2.civ@mail.mil

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 2017
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 3 Document

Key Components of Standard:

• Terminology

• Safety issues

• Sampling of CL evidence

• Analysis

• Yield and capacity calculations

• Conclusions and reporting

• Training

15
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Task Group/Subcommittee Action Plan

Priority 3: Clan Lab Analysis

Planned Actions OSAC Process 

Stage Assignee EstimatedCompletion Date

SAC Review & Vote RA-200/300

SAC Spring/Summer

2017

Notice of Intent & 

Public Comment Period RA-400/500

RC Review & Comments RA-600 RC

Comments Adjudication RA-700 Seized Drugs Summer 2017
Summary of Standards/Guidelines 

Priority Actions

17

Priority Working Title of Document

1 E2548-11 Standard Guide for Sampling Seized Drugs for 

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

2 E2327-15 Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of 

Laboratories Performing Seized-Drug Analysis

3 E2882-12 Standard Guide for Analysis of Clandestine 

Drug Laboratory Evidence
Standards/Guidelines Reviewed For 

Technical Merit

Title Developing 

Organization Status* OSAC Process Stage

E2764-11: Standard Practice for 

Uncertainty Assessment in the Context of 

Seized-Drug Analysis

ASTM SDO revision ---

E1968-11: Standard Guide for Microcrystal 

Testing in Forensic Analysis of Cocaine ASTM SDO revision ---

E1969-11: Standard Guide for Microcrystal 

Testing in Forensic Analysis of 

Methamphetamine and Amphetamine

ASTM Evaluation ---

E2125-11: Standard Guide for Microcrystal 

Testing in Forensic Analysis of Phencyclidine 

and Its Analogues

ASTM Evaluation ---

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Research & Development Needs Identified

• Acceptance Criteria for Instrumental Data 

related to Qualitative Seized Drug Analysis

• Goal: To develop interpretation strategies that allow 

consistent conclusions to be drawn from qualitative 

instrumental data.

• Error rates in Qualitative Methods of Analysis

• Goal: To quantitatively evaluate error rates 

associated with individual qualitative methods of 

analysis, as well as with analytical schemes that 

combine multiple methods of analysis.

19
Current Working Item(s)

• Standard Guide for the Interpretation of GC-MS 

Data of Seized Drugs

• Subcommittee project

• First draft: David Gouldthorpe, Tom Brettell, Glen 

Jackson, and David Koppenhaver 

• Future individual task groups to address specifics

• State of the Discipline Documents

• Task group: Claire Dragovich, Jason Bory, Gina 

Nano, Jason Nawyn, Annie Smith, and Ruth Smith

20
Additional Items of Interest

• Seized Drugs Representatives to SAC Interdisciplinary 

Groups :

• Terminology

• Proficiency Testing

• Education/Training

• Quality Assurance 

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Priority Action Report

Seized Drugs Subcommittee

SAC Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis

Sandra E. Rodriguez-Cruz, Ph.D. - Chair

February 14, 2017