EVALUATION OF DRUG TESTING PROCEDURES USED BY FORENSIC LABORATORIES AND THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THEIR ANALYSTS (FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS REVIEW, 1974 BY JON S SCHULTZ AND JON P THAMES - SEE NCJ-30751)

• NCJ Number: 30752
• Author(s): B STEIN; R H LAESSIG; A INDRIKSONS
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 63 pages
• Corporate Author: William S Hein and Co, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS TWO-PART ARTICLE DEALS WITH A SURVEY OF THE EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF FORENSIC DRUG ANALYSTS, AND WITH THE ACCURACY OF ESTABLISHED DRUG TESTING PROCEDURES AS APPLIED TO MARIJUANA AND LSD.

Abstract

THE SURVEY REVEALED THAT THE VAST MAJROITY OF FORENSIC DRUG ANALYSTS HAD AT LEAST A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND ABOUT TWENTY PERCENT HELD ADVANCED DEGREES. HOWEVER, VERY FEW HAD TAKEN COURSES IN BOTANY OR PHARMACOGNOSY, THE STUDY OF DRUGS OF BIOLOGICAL ORIGIN, OR ANY SUPPLEMENTAL SUBJECTS SINCE THEY STARTED FORENSIC WORK. ANOTHER CRITICISM WHICH EMERGED WAS THAT MANY OF THE ANALYSTS DO NOT TAKE THE TIME TO PURIFY THEIR SAMPLES. THE SECOND PART OF THE ARTICLE IS A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE TESTING PROCEDURES REVEALED BY THE SURVEY AS THOSE MOST OFTEN USED BY FORENSIC LABORATORIES. PRIMARY CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE COLOR TESTS, CHROMATOGRAPHY, AND SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS. THE VARIOUS TEST ARE DISCUSSED SEPARATELY, AND THEN AS THEY ARE USED IN MARIJUANA AND LSD ANALYSIS. THE AUTHORS RECOMMEND THAT GREATER RELIANCE BE PLACED ON DRUG-SPECIFIC TESTS.