Priority Action Report

Seized Drugs Subcommittee

SAC Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis

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

February 23, 2016
Subcommittee Leadership

2

Position Name Organization Term Email

Chair Sandra E. 

Rodriguez-Cruz, Ph.D.

Drug Enforcement 

Administration 2

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 2 Agnes.D.Winokur@usdoj.gov
Subcommittee Members

3

# Name Organization Term Email

1 Georgiy V. Bobashev, Ph.D. RTI International 4 bobashev@rti.org

2 Jason Bory US Customs and Border 

Protection 4 jason.bory@dhs.gov

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

4 Claire M. Dragovich DuPage County Forensic Science 

Center 4 claire.dragovich@dupagesheriff.org

5 Garth Glassburg Northeastern Illinois Regional 

Crime Laboratory 2 gglassburg@nircl.org

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

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

8 David J. Koppenhaver Virginia Department of Forensic 

Science 3 david.koppenhaver@dfs.virginia.gov

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

Laboratory 4 ella.kubicz@wyo.gov
Subcommittee Members

4

# Name Organization Term Email

10 Benny J. Lum Broward County Sheriff’s Office Crime 

Laboratory 4 benny_lum@sheriff.org

11 Christian C. Matchett US Defense Forensic Science Center 2 christian.c.matchett2.civ@mail.mil

12 Gina Nano University of Massachusetts Medical 

School, Drugs of Abuse Laboratory 3 gina.nano@umassmed.edu

13 Richard A. Paulas Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic 

Services - Retired 2 rapaulas@gmail.com

14 Eric C. Person, Ph.D. California State University, Fresno 4 eperson@csufresno.edu

15 Tiffany A. Ribadeneyra Nassau County Office of the Medical 

Examiner 3 tribadeneyra@nassaucountyny.gov

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

Criminalistics Laboratory 2 ssachs@oaklandnet.com

17 Travis J. Worst, Ph.D. Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation 2 travis.worst@ohioattorneygeneral.gov
Discipline Description

The Seized Drugs Subcommittee will 

focus on standards and guidelines 

related to the examination of evidence 

to identify drugs and related 

substances.

5
Subcommittee Liaisons

6

Position Name

QIC Liaison Thomas A. Brettell, Ph.D.

HFC Liaison Eric C. Person, Ph.D.

LRC Liaison Garth Glassburg

KAVI Liaison Tiffany A. Ribadeneyra

ASTM Liaison Agnes D. Winokur
Summary of Standards/Guidelines 

Priority Actions

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

7
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

8
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

Registry forms to FSSB RA-1600 SAC

Spring/Summer 

2016

FSSB approval RA-1700

Public appeals process RA-1800 FSSB

Registry forms & approval to QIC RA-2000

OSAC Registry of Approved Standards RA-2100 QIC

Priority 1: Sampling Seized Drugs

10

* A revised version of this document is pending SDO approval
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

11
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

12
Planned Actions OSAC Process 

Stage Assignee EstimatedCompletion Date

SAC Review & Vote RA-200/300

SAC

Spring 2016

Notice of Intent & 

Public Comment Period RA-400/500

RC Review & Comments RA-600 RC

Comments Adjudication RA-700 Seized Drugs Summer 2016

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

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

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 2016
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
16

Task Group/Subcommittee Action Plan

Priority 3: Clan Lab Analysis

Planned Actions OSAC Process 

Stage Assignee EstimatedCompletion Date

Complete Registry Forms RA-100 Seized Drugs Spring 2016

SAC Review & Vote RA-200/300

SAC

Summer 2016

Notice of Intent & 

Public Comment Period RA-400/500

RC Review & Comments RA-600 RC

Comments Adjudication RA-700 Seized Drugs Fall 2016
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 ---

18
Research Gaps Identified

• Acceptance Criteria for Instrumental Data related 

to Qualitative Seized Drug Analysis

• Goal: To standardize acceptance criteria and develop 

an interpretation strategy that allows consistent 

conclusions to be drawn from qualitative instrumental 

data

• Chromatography, Spectrometry, Spectroscopy

• Result: To improve analysts’ ability to render 

conclusions based upon objectively interpreted data

19
Research Gaps Identified

• 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

• Issues: How does the quality of data influences false 

positive and false negative identification rate in seized 

drug analysis?

• Result: Better communication of results to triers of fact 

20
Future Task Groups

• Acceptance Criteria – Evaluation of current 

resources/documents

• Mass spectrometry

• IR spectroscopy

• Error Rates

• Instrumental Reference Libraries

21
Additional Items of Interest

• First year:

• First OSAC Registry Standard (E2329)

• > 12 virtual SC/TG meetings

• > 15 ballots

• Seized Drugs Representatives to SAC Interdisciplinary 

Groups :

• Terminology – Ella Kubicz

• Proficiency Testing – Claire Dragovich

• Education/Training – Eric Person

• Quality Assurance – Tiffany Ribadeneyra

22
23
Priority Action Report

Seized Drugs Subcommittee

SAC Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis

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

February 23, 2016