Assumptions

Question 1

Who are you employed by?

Answer 1

I am employed by forensicTRACE forensic science laboratory at their branch located in Chicago, Illinois at IIT.

Question 2

What guidelines does the lab follow?

Answer 2

We follow the Quality System manual

Question 3

Are these guidelines accredited?

Answer 3

Yes, under ISO 17025:2005

Question 4

How long have you been employed as a criminalist?

Answer 4

I have been with the lab since November of 2020.

Question 5

In what capacity are you employed by?

Answer 5

As a criminalist

Question 6

What is a criminalist?

Answer 6

A criminalist is someone who uses scientific techniques to identify, compare, analyze, and interpret physical evidence.

Question 7

What is the role of a drug analysis criminalist?

Answer 7

The criminalist will use different analytical tools and their knowledge of chemistry to identify controlled substances in powders, pills, liquids, and body fluids.

Question 8

What sector in the lab do you work in?

Answer 8

I work in the dug analysis section.

Question 9

Can you tell us what in your educational background and experience qualifies you for your position as a criminalist?

Answer 9

I have a bachelors in Bioanalytical Chemistry from the illinois institute of technology in chicago illinois.

I have taken multiple courses within my time at IIT working with instrumentation, specifically GC-MS and FTIR which I use often for drug analysis.

I took the McCrone Research institute forensic polarized light microscopy course as part of Chem 476 lab class. The Mccrone class is usually a 35 hour intensive course for forensic science professionals and others interested in learning the theory and practical application of a polarizing light microscope.

Lastly, I have training in a forensic science laboratory specifically in the drug analysis section.

Question 10

Did that training include both qualitative and quantitative analysis?

Answer 10

yes. Training included:
- color tests
- extraction methods, including acid-base extracts, ion-pair extract and SPE (solid phase extract)
- and various FTIR sampling techniques
- microscopical methods
- and the use of gas chromatography with a mass spectrometry detector

Question 11

Have you previously qualified as an expert regarding qualitative and quantitative analysis of substances?

Answer 11

No, this is my first case assigned after being found competent to perform drug analyses in the forensic lab.

Question 12

Was the GCMS checked before your analysis?

Answer 12

I checked the instrument log for the GCMS one month before the analysis and one month after, and the instrument was correctly operating during that period.

Question 13

Was the MS instrument checked?

Answer 13

The MS was properly tuned at the beginning of the week of my analysis. It is tuned once a week following lab protocol.

Question 14

Was the FTIR instrument checked?

Answer 14

The FTIR was checked for through-put. Calibration of FTIR was done using the wavenumber absorption bands of the polystyrene film reference standard that is NIST traceable.

Question 15

How were the chemical color tests checked?

Answer 15

With a known standard drug for that chemical test. The appropriate color was observed and documented in each color test logbook.

Question 16

What is done with the evidence when it is brought into the evidence room?

Answer 16

The laboratory maintains a “chain of custody” record. It includes receipt and release of evidence with initials, date, and time of receipt or release of the COC evidence.