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JC moot court > Moot Court > Flashcards

Moot Court Flashcards

1
Q

Do you work with the prosecutor?

A

No. Our main customers are the prosecutor but we just report the results and give opinions of those results.

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2
Q

Did you have any judgement when testing your analysis?

A

No. I do not have any judgement. We do not have judgement at the beginning of the case.

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3
Q

What does quality assurance (QA) mean?

A

Quality assurance (QA) are measure that are taken by the lab to monitor, verify, and document it’s performance.
- instrument calibrations
-instrument logbooks
- documenting test methods
- external training
- PPE and clean work environment
- reviewing manuals
- competency and proficiency tests
-traceability of all standards and reference materials

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4
Q

What is an expert witness?

A

a person who is permitted to testify at a trial because of proficiency in a particular field that is relevant to the case.

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5
Q

What is a Jury?

A

a body of persons legally selected and sworn to give their verdict according to the evidence

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6
Q

What is Voir dire

A

a preliminary examination to determine the competency of a witness or juror

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7
Q

What is Chain of custody

A

A process that tracks the evidence by documenting each person who handled the evidence
o Purpose is to retain the integrity of the evidence.

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8
Q

What is a prop 115

A

For evidence to be introduced into the preliminary hearing by the officer.

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9
Q

Is your lab accredited and by whom?

A

Yes by ANAB which stands for ANSI (American National Accreditation Institute) National Accreditation Board.

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10
Q

Describe the ANAB accreditation

A

Our lab voluntarily follows struck guidelines set by ANAB. Our protocols, procedures, and how we do our work is based off these guidelines. Once a year we are audited by ANAB to make sure we are still following these guidelines and that we are processing high quality work.

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11
Q

How does the lab get accredited?

A

The laboratory must prove that it meets certain requirements based off of ANAB guidelines and that we are following polices and procedures that are based off of those guidelines.

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12
Q

What is accreditation?

A

When a standard organization sets standards for our laboratory

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13
Q

What is a criminalist?

A

A person who tests evidence from a law enforcement investigation

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14
Q

What do you do as a criminalist?

A

I test evidence for controlled substances

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15
Q

Do you consider yourself as an expert on drugs.

A

No. I am an expert in the analysis of drugs

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16
Q

Do you consider yourself an expert on drug analysis?

A

Yes.

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17
Q

Is there a position of a trainer at your lab?

A

The criminalist III position is the technical lead of the section and acts as the trainer.

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18
Q

Do you belong to a recognized society attesting to your qualifications as a drug chemist?

A

Yes, the California Association of Criminalists.

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19
Q

Why are you part of that organization (CAC)?

A

It is the most applicable to my position and they keep me up to date with advances in forensic science.

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20
Q

Have you written any articles or published materials dealing with your work? And what are they?

A

When I was an intern with the Drug Enforcement Administration, I wrote a paper with a Senior Forensic Chemist about a presumptive test for fentanyl.

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21
Q

How does your published article work?

A

o Fentanyl is a very potent drug and only needs a small amount to give a “high”. This can be a problem with presumptive testing since fentanyl in low abundance when mixed with cutting reagents, such as sugars. We took two different immunoassays, which is test that measure the concentration, “fentanyl” tests. These were tested on fentanyl along with other drugs to determine if fentanyl could be detected. Our results concluded that these two different brands of test trips worked with the presumptive test of fentanyl and would be used at the Drug Enforcement Administration for the presumptive testing of fentanyl.

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22
Q

Do you have continuing education?

A

No. Continuing education isn’t required by our department.

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23
Q

Are you currently on probation?

A

Yes, everyone is placed on probation for their first year of employment.

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24
Q

Did you take proficiency and competency tests and passed them?

A

Yes and No. I have not taken a proficiency test and I have failed a competency test.

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25
Q

What led you to fail your competency test?

A

I was unknowingly unprepared and I approached by second chance at the competency test with more studying and passed it the second time around

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26
Q

Are you aware that scientists have bias?

A

All scientists are unaware of their bias. Everyone sees things differently and everyone is human.

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27
Q

Have you ever made mistakes?

A

Yes, I am only human but I do learn from my mistakes. I have had some corrective actions and quality incidents in training, but that is all public record.

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28
Q

Have you made mistakes in training?

A

Yes, that is what training is for.

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29
Q

Did you make a mistake on your lab report?

A

I made a couple errors but it was caught in technical review.

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30
Q

Do you have an error rate?

A

Errors occur but I do not have knowledge of an error rate. We have technical and administrate reviewers that reduce the amount of errors.

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31
Q

Why aren’t you a doctor to be an expert?

A

I have had in house training that qualifies me to be an expert. There is no requirement to be a doctor to be a criminalist.

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32
Q

How do you get your evidence?

A

I request my evidence, I head down to property and Evidence, check the evidence and make sure it is properly packaged and sealed, sign the chain of custody, take possession of the evidence, go back to the lab, and analyze the evidence. Then after analysis, I go back to Property and Evidence, sign the chain of custody, and return the evidence.

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33
Q

Define a proper seal.

A

A heat-sealed bag or a taped box with the initials and date of who sealed the evidence.

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34
Q

What is the proper way to mark evidence?

A

Write the initials and date, case Number, and item number on the proximal container.

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35
Q

How do you know you analyzed my client’s sample? (see Sample)

A

I see my initials and date on the proximal container on the evidence.

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36
Q

What is the proximal container?

A

The most inner packaging containing the suspected drug material.

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37
Q

Why are there different pen colors?

A

I went to lunch and I couldn’t find my pen so I grabbed another pen. The protocol does not say I have to use one color, just black or blue.

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38
Q

What is a control?

A

Something that is run to make sure the technique works. Like a performance test.

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39
Q

Explain the quality assurance program for balances in the Forensic Chemistry section. How is it documented?

A

Balances are checked every month using traceable weights. Then are serviced once a year.

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40
Q

Is balance calibration done with an internal or external weight?

A

Both. We have traceable weights that are serviced once a year. We also have in house weights that are used to mock samples we see in casework.

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41
Q

What is the accuracy of the balances in your laboratory?

A

The analytical balances have an uncertainty of 0.020g and the Bulk balances have an uncertainly of 0.8g.

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42
Q

What is measurement uncertainty?

A

Every time you take a measurement there is uncertainty. It is the range that of how confident the true value of that measurement will fall within that range.

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43
Q

What is K=2?

A

It is the coverage factor which is a calculation that provides a level of confidence of 95.45% that the weight will fall within that range. Our accrediting body establishes our minimum confident level.

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44
Q

What is K?

A

It is a constant.

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45
Q

Why is your measurement uncertainty not 100%?

A

There is no uncertainty at 100%. That would make our uncertainty +/- infinity and that wouldn’t be helpful.

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46
Q

How many grams in an ounce?

A

28.3g

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47
Q

Why is it important to take a weight?

A

It’s important because it would lead to crime enhancement. Which means if the samples weigh a certain amount it can increase the charge

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48
Q

Are your weights 100% accurate?

A

No. There is always some variability when a weight is taken, however we have a confidence level of 95.45% that our weight will fall within range.

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49
Q

Are weights just net or gross weight?

A

No. There is also a count for weights for items such as post cards or vape cartridges, weight not obtained, and residue.

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50
Q

What are the major contributors to measurement uncertainty?

A

a. Repeatability of data (mock evidence weights and SI traceable weights)
b. Uncertainty of the reference standards calibrations
c. Uncertainty of the balance calibrations
d. Uncertainty of the balance readabilities.

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51
Q

What is forensic chemistry?

A

The application of chemistry to law. Taking evidence samples from an investigation and reaching a conclusion based on the tests we ran.

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52
Q

What is Chemistry?

A

It is the study of matter, chemical structures, and chemical reactions.

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53
Q

What is Daubert vs. Merill Dow Pharmaceuticals?

A

It ruled that the judge is the gatekeeper, who assures that scientific testimony comes from scientific knowledge.

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54
Q

Did your analysis follow all standards for Daubert?

A

Yes. It meets all standards

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55
Q

What is a reagent?

A

Chemicals used in a laboratory for analysis, cleanup, and extractions.

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56
Q

What is a reference sample?

A

A known drug that has been purchased from a manufacturer that is compared against our unknown samples.

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57
Q

How does the evidence get to the lab?

A

Property and evidence pick up evidence from our Sheriff locations once a week. Other outside agencies such as USPS, Homeland security, jails, etc. drop off evidence to property and evidence once a week.

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58
Q

How does the evidence get to you?

A

The lab request gets entered by the front office, and then it goes to my supervisor, then it gets assigned to me, I go down to property and evidence, I make sure the evidence is sealed and packaged correctly, I sign the chain of custody, I take possession of the evidence, I got back to the lab, I analyze it, then I go back to property and evidence and return it and sign the chain of custody back to them, and then I write my report.

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59
Q

How do you know if this evidence is my client’s?

A

I personally do not know if this evidence is your client’s but I compared the case number and the item number linked to this sample and whether it’s your suspect’s is not within my scope to testify

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60
Q

How do you have quality work with so many strikeouts?

A

I am human and I make mistakes. Our manual tells us how we make these corrections and we are transparent with a single strikeout and initial and date if it is done on a different day.

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61
Q

Can we deviate from protocols?

A

Yes, if we obtain QA approval, we can document it in our notes and cite the scientifically reliable method

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62
Q

What are your established record keeping policies?

A

Notes are taken at the time of analysis. After the report, it is Technically and administratively reviewed by qualified analysts and then are kept in a secure file room and maintained by our administrative staff.

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63
Q

What is the measurement uncertainty based off of?

A

The balance with the widest variation, analyst with the widest variation, readability, reliability, calibrations, and reference standards

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64
Q

Is the measurement uncertainty always 0.020g?

A

a. No it is based off of the balance with the widest variation. So if a new analyst is added or it can change when it gets reevaluated every year.
b. The bulk balance is different because it is based off of measurement of different weights.

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65
Q

How come the weight isn’t the same time every time? A ruler measures the same measurement every time.

A

A ruler is not measuring anything. It is a measureand. How the ruler is used is where there is some variability. The person is changing.

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66
Q

What is the definition of cannabis?

A

It is known as marijuana. It is a plant that contains THC.

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67
Q

What is hemp?

A

It is a crop that is limited to types of the Cannabis Sativa strain that has no more than 0.3% of THC.

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68
Q

What is industrial hemp?

A

Hemp used for manufacturing purposes such as clothes, sheets, baskets, etc.

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69
Q

Is hemp and CBD the same thing?

A

No. CBD is a cannabinoid from the Cannabis plant, where as hemp is the cannabis plant with little THC.

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70
Q

What is the scientific name for marijuana including family, genus, and species?

A

Cannabis. The family is cannabaceae (can uh be see I), the genus is Cannabis, and species could be Cannabis Savita.

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71
Q

What parts of the plant contains THC?

A

Everything but the roots, stems, and seeds.

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72
Q

Is there any difference in penalty between marijuana, hash and hash oil?

A

In CA you can carry up to 28.3 grams of Marijuana legally if over 21. You can only carry 8g of hash/hash oil legally if over 21.

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73
Q

What literature have you reviewed and give a quick summary.

A

I read the LA PD’s cannabis method and it is a separation method to distinguish between cannabis and hemp.

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74
Q

What is a cannabinoid

A

group of closely related compounds and are the active components of cannabis.

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75
Q

Chemically, can any of the other cannabinoids break down or be converted to THC? Does THC break down?

A

No. THC breaks down into Cannabinol.

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76
Q

What is total THC?

A

THC-a acid that is naturally occurring. It is not psychoactive until consumed or heated when it turns in delta 9-THC.

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77
Q

What is Delta 9 THC?

A

Delta 9 is the location of the double bond in the ring structure.

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78
Q

What information is gained from the macroscopic examination?

A

To see if it is consistent with the description of “cannabis”

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79
Q

What is a macroscopic test?

A

A test where you observe the suspected drug material with your naked eye.

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80
Q

What is a microscopic test?

A

A test that uses a microscope to observe the suspected drug material.

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81
Q

Describe cystolith hairs including characteristics and locations found on marijuana.

A

Cystolithic hairs are bear claw shaped and they are found on the top of the cannabis leaves.

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82
Q

If you got a positive color test than why isn’t it cannabis?

A

Hemp contains cannabinoids and a little THC and the color test is sensitive enough to react and make that color show.

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83
Q

What is 17 AMT?

A

17 Alpha methyl Testosterone. It is our internal standard for the cannabis method.

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84
Q

What is an internal standard?

A

It is a chemical substance that is added in a constant amount to samples and the blank

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85
Q

Why do you use an internal standard?

A

To make sure our instrument is working properly

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86
Q

How is 17 AMT similar to THC?

A

Has a similar structure, formula, molecular weight, and chemical properties

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87
Q

Why do you use 17 AMT instead of the SKF?

A

It is similar to THC, doesn’t react with it.

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88
Q

What is Cannabidiol?

A

It is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant.

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89
Q

Why is there a spectrum of the 17 AMT?

A

It is the internal standard and we need to identify it because it used in the ratio that if the THC is above or below 1%. The blank makes sure we are identifying the right component.

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90
Q

If hemp has 0.3% THC why does your method test for 1% THC instead?

A

It gives us a level of certainty that it is cannabis if that ratio is over 1. This is because our method is 3x the legal amount for hemp. If the THC ratio is over 1, we know that it is definitely cannabis.

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91
Q

What is the guard band

A

It is a buffer that is added to our IS/pos control to guarantee that even at the lowest level of accuracy, it is within specification.

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92
Q

So, this value is pure THC?

A

No. It is just a ratio based on these calculations.

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93
Q

How did you make the cannabis method?

A

We did a validation and ran known samples of cannabis and hemp. During our validation we ran cannabis that has been quantified over 0.3% (Not done in house) and that was found to be cannabis on this method.

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94
Q

How confident are you with your result (for cannabis method)?

A

It is inconclusive cannabis/hemp. I followed our procedures that are validated, which lead me to this conclusion and then my report was technically and administratively reviewed.

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95
Q

Is an inconclusive result a safety net to maybe not be cannabis?

A

I cannot testify that it is cannabis or hemp. My results are that it is inconclusive for cannabis/hemp.

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96
Q

What is heroin?

A

Heroin is a highly addictive drug from the poppy plant

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97
Q

What is the scientific name for the poppy plant?

A

Papaver somiferum (some if er um).

98
Q

Define a narcotic according to California Law.

A

o Opium/opiate, opium poppy, poppy straw, coca leaves and any salt, cocaine, ecgonine, and acetyl fentanyl produced directly or indirectly by separation from substances of natural origin, or manufactured, or by combination of both.

99
Q

What is the definition of an opiate?

A

A drug derived from opium.

100
Q

What are the classifications of heroin?

A

Schedule I Narcotic

101
Q

What is the origin of heroin?

A

Heroin is processed from morphine, which is a naturally occurring opioid from the poppy plant.

102
Q

What is the chemical name for Heroin? Street name?

A

 Diacetylmorphine
 China white, black tar, hell dust, Big H.

103
Q

What is a natural opiate?

A
  • Naturally occurring from the opium plant
  • Morphine and Codeine
104
Q

What Is a synthetic narcotic?

A
  • Not a naturally occurring part of the plant. Must be manufactured
  • Fentanyl
105
Q

What is a semi-synthetic narcotic?

A
  • Partly naturally occurring and part manmade.
  • Oxycodone, Heroin.
106
Q

How are narcotics used or administered?

A

 Pain Relievers
 Heroin can be smoked, injected, or snorted.

107
Q

Why is there codeine in this sample?

A

It probably came from the manufacture of heroin

108
Q

How does morphine turn into heroin?

A

Morphine is diacetyliated, which mean two acetyl groups replace the alcohol groups on morphine to turn into heroin

109
Q

What is an acetyl group?

A

It is a -COCH3 group founds in organic compounds

110
Q

Is heroin an organic compound?

A

Yes.

111
Q

How many analyses have you done on heroin?

A

A couple dozen

112
Q

Is this a useable amount?

A

It is a useable amount for analysis, but as for consumption I cannot testify to that.

113
Q

Does that make you qualified enough to be an expert on the matter? Why?

A

Because I went through a focused in-house training at the San Diego county sheriff’s regional crime lab that qualifies me

114
Q

What is a 7-drug cocktail?

A

It is the top 7 drugs we see at the sheriff’s crime lab and it is run as a courtesy for analysts to use during the week.

115
Q

What is retention time?

A

The time it takes for the sample to pass through the instrument

116
Q

Why didn’t you identify codeine?

A

It doesn’t meet identification criteria. Codeine was not in the threshold for identification.

117
Q

Aren’t there isomers of heroin that are less potent? That could have been my client sample’s.

A

I don’t need to determine the isotopic state because California law states any opium derivatives unless listed in another schedule, salt, isomer, and salts of isomers all falls under the schedule of heroin.

118
Q

Isn’t there other tests you could have performed?

A

Yes, I could have used FTIR on my sample, but since I suspected it was a mixture, it wouldn’t have been a good result because mixtures are a limitation of FTIR.

119
Q

So my client’s sample could be 1% and he would get the same sentence?

A

o My analysis concludes that it contains heroin and morphine. We don’t test for purity.

120
Q

What do you suspect item number 9 to be?

A

Based on my analysis I suspect it to be Dimethyl sulfone.

121
Q

What is Dimethyl Sulfone?

A

It is a cutting agent that is non controlled. Found in meth samples.

122
Q

What is a cutting agent?

A

It is a filler found in drugs to reduce the potency of the drug. Makes it less pure

123
Q

What is this Chcl3 and H2O extraction? What does that mean?

A

That is a chloroform and water extraction. I conducted this test to make sure nothing was hidden under the dimethyl sulfone peak. Dimethyl sulfone dissolves in water and can’t dissolve in Chloroform. Water and chloroform create two layers, so I took the chloroform layer and that is what the GCMS shows

124
Q

What is a controlled substance?

A

A drug that is listed on the drug schedule.

125
Q

What is a drug?

A

Anything that has an effect on the body other than nutrition.

126
Q

What is an over the counter drug?

A

A drug that you can buy at the super market. Do not need a doctor’s prescription or approval.

127
Q

What is physical dependence and how does it vary from psychological dependence?

A

o Physical Dependance is associate with physical withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, aches and pains, headache, etc.
o Psychological Dependance is associated with emotional and cognitive symptoms such as mood swings, irritability, etc.

128
Q

What is meant by tolerance?

A

When the body gets used to a drug and more is needed to feel the effects.

129
Q

What are some common household items with a high potential for abuse?

A

Alcohol, Cough Syrup, spray paint, glue.

130
Q

Describe as to a jury how a color test is performed, including the purpose and value of the test.

A

It is a fast-screening technique where a liquid is added to the sample and if a color response occurs, could help with further analysis.

131
Q

Is a color test a presumptive test?

A

No. It is a screening technique.

132
Q

What is a presumptive test?

A

Two techniques that don’t meet the criteria for identification.

133
Q

What is a preliminary test?

A

When we communicate a result to a DA or officer before analysis is completed.

134
Q

What effect do mixtures have on spot test results?

A

Give muddles results. Can miss a drug.

135
Q

What effect does time have on color test reagents?

A

The reagent turns a color over time. Modified Marquis turns brown over time.
Also, if you allow up to 30 seconds a color could form.

136
Q

What is a blank?

A

A blank is a solution that contains no controlled substance. It is used to make sure there is no contamination and that the test is working correctly.

137
Q

When do you not do a presumptive test?

A

It is up to the analyst’s discretion. It depends on the evidence sample in question and if a presumptive test is applicable. It is required for the cannabis method. Could also be due to time constraints or safety concerns.

138
Q

What are the differences and purposes of “split” injection, “splitless” injection?

A

Split injection injects a small amount of the sample into the GCMS (short method)
Splitless injection injects the whole sample into the GCMS (normal/ long method)
More sensitive and better peak shape.

139
Q

What types of GC’s (model, manufacturer, etc.) does the drug laboratory use?

A

Agilent technologies

140
Q

Describe the preventative maintenance schedule and QA/QC procedures performed on the GC’s.

A

The GCMS is serviced every six months and we do a performance check every week.

141
Q

Are you trained to testify?

A

No. We have an evaluation of competency of courtroom testimony and to gain experience and familiarity with courtroom testimony.

142
Q

What is SKF? What does it stand for?

A

It is proadifen and it stands for the manufacture that is Smith, Klein, and French

143
Q

What is abundance?

A

It is the count of how many ions there are in a sample coming out of the GCMS.

144
Q

What is an ion?

A

A charged atom or molecule.

145
Q

What is an atom?

A

It is a particle of mater that uniquely defines an element.

146
Q

What is an element?

A

A chemical substance that cannot be broken down into other substances. Such as Carbon or Nitrogen

147
Q

Why are there tic marks on the peaks?

A

It’s to make sure I am not missing a drug and to communicate to my reviewers that I checked these peaks.

148
Q

Explain as to a jury how a GC operates?

A

A GC separates a mixture into its individual components

149
Q

Why does the drug lab use helium as a carrier gas?

A

It’s an inert gas. It doesn’t react with anything

150
Q

What is a background subtraction? What does that mean?

A

When the background interfere’s with the sample so by doing a background subtraction it makes the sample easier to see. This is a standard procedure in our lab manual

151
Q

Describe the use of blanks on the GC/MS.

A

Blanks are run before every sample to make sure there are no contaminates

152
Q

Do you service the GCMS?

A

It is done by an outside vender. They make sure the instrument parameters are in working order.

153
Q

Explain GCMS to a jury.

A

The Gas Chromatographer separates the components of the sample and the Mass Spectrometer identifies those components. Imagine a running marathon. All the runners are all lined up at the start and then as the race begins, they begin to separate by speed, fitness level (someone who has been training vs someone who just signed up). As they cross the finish line they are identified. This is similar to a GCMS where the sample is the race and each component in the sample is a runner.

154
Q

What is the upper and lower limit on the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum?

A

700nm-1nm

155
Q

What region is the most useful analytically?

A

Mid IR

156
Q

What is the standard range of most instruments?

A

4000-400 cm-1

157
Q

What is “Fourier Transform” and how does it apply to IR?

A

A mathematical equation that turns the raw data Into a useable graph.

158
Q

What is meant by the “fingerprint region” of an IR spectrum? Why is it significant

A

The area that gives the most information about the drug and where we are able to ID the drug.
Usually around 1500-500 cm1

159
Q

What is FTIR

A

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

160
Q

Why is polystyrene used to check the function of the FTIR?

A

Stable chemical that does not break down. It checks the accuracy of the instrument because it covers the range of the FTIR.

161
Q

What is transmittance?

A

It is the amount of light that successfully passes through the sample and comes out the other side.

162
Q

What is absorbance?

A

The amount of light which is absorbed by the sample.

163
Q

What does the background do for FTIR analysis?

A

It analyzes subtracts the background noise (air) from the samples

164
Q

What is the blank?

A

The blank is how it takes a normal sample without the sample. It is to make sure the instrument is working properly and correctly identifying the internal standard and we expect it to come out around the same time every Injection

165
Q

Describe, as to a jury, how an FTIR operates.

A

FTIR is the analysis of how light energy interacts with a sample. The drug is placed in-between a beam of light and a detector. The instruments detects how much light passes through a sample and how much is absorbed. This is unique to every chemical so based on these interactions a unique graph is created. This graph is compared to known graphs and it is up to the analyst whether to make and ID or to proceed with further analysis.

166
Q

Briefly describe the lab service request to the jury.

A

So, the top here has all the basic information about the crime such as the case number and the incident type. Then we have the items descriptions of the items I tested and then I have my result box that shows the item number, the tests I did, the results of these test and the weights. Then I have a box for any additional comments and then I have my signature, the technical reviewer and the administrative review’s signature.

167
Q

What are Administrative reviewers?

A

Administrative review makes sure:
 Accuracy of case information
 Typographical, grammatical, and spelling errors
 Clarity and completeness of report and supporting documents

168
Q

What are Technical reviewers?

A
  • Technical reviews are reviews made by qualified analysts to
  • Make sure that the policies and procedures were being followed,
  • Comes up with the same conclusion, and makes sure that our report and data reflects the result on our laboratory report.
  • Proper and adequate positive and negative controls were used.
  • Proper documentation of test(s) and notes are included and support the conclusion
  • Proper documentation of Uncertainty of Measurement
  • Proper identification criteria when using techniques like GCMS and FTIR
169
Q

Are you 100% sure your conclusions are correct?

A

Science is never 100% right but I am confident my results are correct since our methods are verified to test controlled substances.

170
Q

Do you test all your evidence in one day?

A

We are assigned multiple cases and if I do not have time to analyze all the samples in one day, they are stored in my personal locker that only I have access to, until I have time to analyze them

171
Q

What is a quality incidence and have you had any on your report?

A

A quality incidence is a technical issue that arises in the lab by an analyst, procedure, and it is determined by QA on how to resolve this issue. There are no quality incidents on this lab report.

172
Q

Why do you not take proficient tests?

A

New trainees have to establish competency and after that we have to take proficiency tests to make sure we are still proficient in controlled substances.

173
Q

How are you competent to testify?

A

I have in house training, I have completed and passed competency tests, I follow procedures and protocols that qualify me.

174
Q

How do you guarantee your results are reliable?

A

The lab has a quality assurance protocol that establishes scientific reliability. We are following instrument checks and reports are technically and administratively reviewed.

175
Q

How would you describe a crystalline solid and a rocky solid?

A

A crystalline solid is a geometric shape and structure. It is nomenclature used in controlled substances. A rocky solid is less of a geometric shape and is shaped similar to pebbles

176
Q

What is the difference between validation and verification?

A

Validation is an in dept study to test an interment or method by accuracy, length of analysis time, sensitivity, limits of detection, etc to make sure it is fit test for controlled substances

Verification is if we change something in our method such as the oven temperature, we don’t have to do through the whole validation process, by changing the oven temperature, does not change the accuracy of our method.

177
Q

How long can you keep evidence for?

A

30 days.

178
Q

How do you select which method to perform?

A

It depends on the sample I get. I could do a color test based on what’s present and if I suspect it is a mixture I will run it on GCMS and if I think it is one substance than I will run it on FTIR

179
Q

What are some of your quality control procedures?

A

 Use of certified reference materials
 Use of positive and negative controls

180
Q

What are some major sources that effect measurements?

A

Balances, analysts, special environmental factors, types of evidence tested, and reference standards used.

181
Q

What are some mandatory safety training you have to train on ?

A

Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP)
 Respiratory protection (RPP)
 Aerosol Transmissible Disease Exposure Control Plan
 Site Evacuation Plan (SEP) and Fire Safety Plan (FSP)
 Fentanyl-Naloxone/Narcan Review

182
Q

How is the modified Marquis made?

A

Sulfuric acid and formaldehyde

183
Q

What PPE do you use while in the laboratory?

A

Lab coats, gloves, P-100 respiratory mask.

184
Q

How is Cobalt Thiocyanate made?

A

Cobalt Thiocyanate and water.

185
Q

How is Duquenois-Levine Made?

A

Vanillin and acetaldehyde and ethanol. Hydrochloric acid and chloroform are added as additional steps.

186
Q

How is Liebermann’s Made?

A

Sodium Nitrate and Sulfuric acid.

187
Q

How is Mecke’s made?

A

Selenous acid and sulfuric acid.

188
Q

How is your internal Standard (SKF) made?

A

Proadifen and ethanol

189
Q

How is your internal standard (17-AMT) made?

A

17-AMT and methanol

190
Q

How is you positive THC control made?

A

100uL of THC and 900uL of internal standard.

191
Q

Can you use someone else’s balance for casework?

A

Yes, but you need QA approval.

192
Q

Is FTIR an Identification technique?

A

No. A positive result from another analytical method, such as color tests, must be needed to make an ID

193
Q

What is the difference between a presumptive test and a non confirmed ID?

A

A presumptive test results are those defined only by presumptive testing.
Unconfirmed results are defined as results obtained when a confirmatory test is performed, but the data does not support a confirmed identification

194
Q

What is the identification criteria for GC?

A
  • The peak of interest must be above our threshold.
  • The peak of interest shouldn’t coelute with another peak.
  • The peak of interest must have a retention time within 0.05 minutes of the reference material.
195
Q

What is the identification criteria for MS?

A
  • The spectrum of interest must be consistent with the reference material
  • The spectrum of interest must have the same base peak as the reference material.
  • The spectrum of interest must have the same molecular ion as the reference material.
    -The presence of extraneous ions should be less than 10% of the base peak
    -The absence of MINOR ions should be less than 10% of the base peak
  • AQ background subtraction can be preformed but the subtracted and un-subtracted spectrum should be included in the case record.
196
Q

Can you ID a drug without a reference material?

A

In the absence of a reference material, mass spectral identification may be made based on cited literature data

197
Q

ID requirements of Cannabis method

A
  • Positive ID of Plant Material
  • Positive color test
  • The sample THC/IS is greater than the control THC/IS peak.
  • (concentrated) must ID cannabinoid
198
Q

What is standard deviation?

A

A measure of how distributed the data is compared to the mean

199
Q

What is a category A?

A

Analysis that gives structural information

200
Q

What is Category B?

A

Analysis through chemical or physical characteristics without strcuturtal information

201
Q

What is Category C?

A

Analysis through general or class information

202
Q

What is error vs uncertainty

A

Error is the difference between the measured value and the ‘true value’ of what is being measured.
Uncertainty is a quantification of the uncertainty of the measurement result.

203
Q

Why is measurement uncertainty important?

A
  1. It is a requirement by our accrediting body and our lab
  2. All measurements have some sort of variation and it is important to be transparent in the accuracy for our reporting.
204
Q

How does standard deviation relate to measurement uncertainty?

A

It is also a range but in relation to the mean. It gives the upper and lower limits of the data set

205
Q

What sources of uncertainty are taken into consideration when taking a measurement?

A

-traceable weights
-balance calibrations
-repeatability
-readability

206
Q

What procedures do you follow to take weight accurately?

A

Our weights are serviced once a year and checked once a month using traceable weights and surrogate weights, we tare the weighing vessel, and we preform an internal adjustment.

207
Q

What is a competency test?

A

It is a series of tests to evaluate a new trainee’s skills and abilities against the requirements of their job

208
Q

What is a proficiency test?

A

A test to evaluate an analyst’s continued proficiency in controlled substances. Meaning can they still follow policies and procedures to correctly identify drugs in a sample

209
Q

What is an error rate?

A

It means the frequency of errors someone or something makes

210
Q

What makes your instruments reliable?

A

They are validated and scientifically accepted in the forensic community. They are approved by our accrediting body.

211
Q

How isn’t the cannabis method a quant?

A

We are not reporting the quality amount or percentage. It is a threshold analysis method of the area of the THC peaks vs the unknown ratio.

212
Q

What does the cannabis method require more tests?

A

There’s a different ID criteria for the cannabis method where as other drugs only need our standard ID criteria

213
Q

How are you qualified to test for Heroin?

A
  • Training
  • My degree
  • around 400 hours of training
  • Passed competency tests
214
Q

Are your color tests a validated method?

A

Yes

215
Q

Why do you use 0.050g of plant material for the Cannabis method?

A

Because 50mg of plant sample in 5mL of solvent should extract out to 1% if it is cannabis per this method.

216
Q

What is Bias?

A

To favor one side over another side.

217
Q

What is quality Assurance?

A

It the creation of processes, techniques and methods that are designed to produce high quality results and accuracy for controlled substances
- checking balances every month
-Checking GCMS once a week
-Checking FTIR once a month

218
Q

What is Quality Control?

A

A program which is used to evaluate wether the analysis is operating within the defined tolerance limits
-running RMs with our unknown samples
-running blanks
- internal standards

219
Q

What is good lab practice?

A

It is a set of laboratory practices set by the FDA.
- Analysts not working alone
-wearing the correct PPE
- following procedures etc.

220
Q

Limitations to the Cannabis Method?

A

-Cannabichromene and Cannabidiol coelute at the baseline
- Positive controls can only be used a week after preparation
- Cannot differentiate between THCA and THC.

221
Q

What is readability?

A

A set value by the manufacturer that we plug into our measurement uncertainty calculation

222
Q

What is the measurement uncertainty calculation?

A

Combined measurement uncertainty times the coverage factor

223
Q

What is repeatability based on?

A

-balance with widest variability
-analyst with widest variability
- surrogate weight with widest variability

224
Q

Why is accreditation important?

A

To make sure we are producing accurate high quality work that is accepted by our accredited body and the scientific community

225
Q

Why do we not use K=3?

A

It would double our measurement uncertainty and it would make a lot of what we analyze residues and it is not practical for our section

226
Q

What is the combined measurement uncertainty?

A

The measurement uncertainty from the repeatability, readability, and the calibration the balances

227
Q

Why don’t you do a macroscopic test for every drug?

A

The macroscopic test for cannabis is part of the identification criteria for the cannabis method. It is not required for other drugs

228
Q

Why do you write best match instead of NCSD?

A

No real reason, it is what the results come back as and we want to be transparent in our report.

229
Q

Why do you need to identify another cannabinoid for concentrated cannabis?

A

To makes sure the concentration cannabis is an extraction from the plant instead of lab grown thc

230
Q

Where is your office located?

A

5590 Overland Ave, San Diego CA 92123

231
Q

What is a “wet” solid?

A

A solid that has appeared to absorb moisture.

232
Q

What is an inconclusive result?

A

Its neither a positive or negative result.

233
Q

What is nomenclature?

A

It is assigning a name to things that is accepted by a scientific community

234
Q

Does your lab create measurement uncertainty for each balance?

A

No, all of our balances are combined into the measurement uncertainty.

235
Q

What is the equation to get to the combined measurement uncertainty?

A

The square root of the sum (readability, repeatability, and balance uncertainty) squared

236
Q

There are two types of measurement uncertainty. Which does your lab use?

A

The controlled substance section uses the Type A based on statistical measurements

237
Q

Are you being paid to testify?

A

Yes, it is within my hours of work. Testifying to analysis is part of my job description.

238
Q

Can you tell the jury what the weights of the samples are in ounces?

A

ITEM 9: 0.0012 ounces
ITEM 10: 0.0024 ounces
ITEM 11: 0.0079 ounces

239
Q

What is quantification?

A

the expression or measurement of the quantity of something

240
Q

When did you start and finish your analysis?

A

I started on 12/27/22 And my report was issued on 1/12/23

241
Q

What is the difference between repeatability and reproducibility

A

Repeatability is the number of times you repeat something. We weighed a set of waits over 100 times.
Reproducibility is based off of repeatability but including different factors such as different analysts doing the weighing events

242
Q

What are wave numbers?

A

The number of waves in a unit distance

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