2005/2006 SWGDRUG 2005/2006 SWGDRUG ACCOMPLISHMENTSACCOMPLISHMENTS

Drug Enforcement AdministrationDrug Enforcement AdministrationOffice of Forensic SciencesOffice of Forensic Sciences

sponsored by the

Office of National DrugOffice of National Drug Control PolicyControl Policy

and the

SWGDRUGSWGDRUG

Scientific Working Scientific Working Group for the Analysis Group for the Analysis

of Seized Drugsof Seized Drugs

Mission of SWGDRUGMission of SWGDRUG

The mission of SWGDRUG The mission of SWGDRUG is to recommend minimum is to recommend minimum standards for the forensic standards for the forensic examination of seized examination of seized drugs and to seek their drugs and to seek their international acceptance.international acceptance.

SWGDRUG ObjectivesSWGDRUG Objectives Specifying requirements for practitioners’ Specifying requirements for practitioners’

knowledge, skills and abilities,knowledge, skills and abilities, Promoting professional development,Promoting professional development, Providing a means of information exchange Providing a means of information exchange

within the forensic science community,within the forensic science community, Promoting ethical standards of Promoting ethical standards of

practitioners,practitioners, Providing minimum standards for Providing minimum standards for

examinations and reporting,examinations and reporting, Establishing quality assurance Establishing quality assurance

requirements,requirements, Considering relevant international Considering relevant international

standards, andstandards, and Seeking international acceptance of Seeking international acceptance of

SWGDRUG recommendationsSWGDRUG recommendations

2005 SWGDRUG Process2005 SWGDRUG Process The SWGDRUG process is an The SWGDRUG process is an

international forensic science international forensic science community endeavorcommunity endeavor

The role of the core committee is to The role of the core committee is to vote to accept or reject vote to accept or reject subcommittee recommendationssubcommittee recommendations

In order for a proposal to become an In order for a proposal to become an official recommendation, 3/4s of the official recommendation, 3/4s of the full core committee must be present. full core committee must be present. 2/3s of those present must vote in 2/3s of those present must vote in the affirmative (YES) for a proposal the affirmative (YES) for a proposal to become a recommendationto become a recommendation

2005/2006 SWGDRUG 2005/2006 SWGDRUG Conference AccomplishmentsConference Accomplishments

Sampling Seized DrugsSampling Seized Drugs Botanical Material AdditionBotanical Material Addition Supplementary DocumentsSupplementary Documents Validation of Analytical MethodsValidation of Analytical Methods GlossaryGlossary BylawsBylaws New WebsiteNew Website LogoLogo

Sampling for Qualitative Sampling for Qualitative AnalysisAnalysis

Adopted by the Core Committee in Adopted by the Core Committee in January 2005January 2005

Goal of the sampling Goal of the sampling recommendation is to answer recommendation is to answer relevant questions about a population relevant questions about a population by only examining a portionby only examining a portion

This minimizes the total number of This minimizes the total number of required analytical determinations, required analytical determinations, while assuring that all relevant legal while assuring that all relevant legal and scientific requirements are metand scientific requirements are met

Sampling StrategySampling Strategy

Population DeterminationPopulation Determination

Sampling PlanSampling PlanStatisticalStatistical

Non-StatisticalNon-Statistical

Sampling ProcedureSampling Procedure

Sampling for Qualitative Sampling for Qualitative AnalysisAnalysis

Sam

plin

g Sa

mpl

ing

Sche

me

Sche

me

Statistical Based SamplingStatistical Based Sampling A Statistically based sampling plan A Statistically based sampling plan

is required if an inference is to be is required if an inference is to be drawn on the entire populationdrawn on the entire population

Statistically selected units shall be Statistically selected units shall be analyzed to meet SWGDRUG analyzed to meet SWGDRUG minimum requirementsminimum requirements

Statistical approaches include: Statistical approaches include: Hypergeometric, Bayesian, ASTM Hypergeometric, Bayesian, ASTM E-105-58E-105-58

Non-Statistical Sampling Non-Statistical Sampling A non-statistical approach may suffice to A non-statistical approach may suffice to

answer questions related to the presence of answer questions related to the presence of a drug, or to address statutory enforcement a drug, or to address statutory enforcement levelslevels

A non-statistical approach is appropriate if A non-statistical approach is appropriate if no inferences are to be made about the no inferences are to be made about the entire populationentire population

Examples of non-statistical approaches Examples of non-statistical approaches include: the UNODC “square root” method include: the UNODC “square root” method and examples from ENFSI 2004 sampling and examples from ENFSI 2004 sampling guidelinesguidelines

Population DeterminationPopulation Determination Population Determination shall take Population Determination shall take

into account all typical forms and into account all typical forms and quantities in which the exhibit may quantities in which the exhibit may appearappear

A population may consist of a single A population may consist of a single unit or multiple unitsunit or multiple units

A multiple unit population shall A multiple unit population shall consist of items which are similar in consist of items which are similar in relevant visual characteristicsrelevant visual characteristics

Botanical Materials Botanical Materials AdditionAddition

Adopted by the Core Committee in August 2005Adopted by the Core Committee in August 2005 Allows a properly trained/competent/expert Allows a properly trained/competent/expert

witness in botanical determinations to identify witness in botanical determinations to identify plant material based on documented plant material based on documented morphological characteristicsmorphological characteristics

Botanical competence in this context applies to Botanical competence in this context applies to those examiners recognized as professional those examiners recognized as professional botanists or those assessed to be competent by botanists or those assessed to be competent by suchsuch

Internationally, this practice is recognized as Internationally, this practice is recognized as conforming to existing standardsconforming to existing standards

3.6 An identification of botanical 3.6 An identification of botanical materials may be made utilizing materials may be made utilizing morphological characteristics alone morphological characteristics alone provided sufficient botanical features provided sufficient botanical features appropriate for identification are appropriate for identification are observed. Such examinations shall be observed. Such examinations shall be made by analysts competent in made by analysts competent in botanical identifications. Botanical botanical identifications. Botanical competence in this context applies to competence in this context applies to those examiners recognized as those examiners recognized as professional botanists or those professional botanists or those assessed to be competent by such. assessed to be competent by such. Identifications of chemical components Identifications of chemical components contained in botanicals (mescaline, contained in botanicals (mescaline, THC, opiates, psilocin, etc.) shall rely THC, opiates, psilocin, etc.) shall rely on principles of chemical identification on principles of chemical identification set down in Table 1.set down in Table 1.

Botanical Materials AdditionBotanical Materials Addition

Supplementary DocumentsSupplementary Documents Adopted by the Core Committee in August Adopted by the Core Committee in August

20052005 The supplementary documents are not The supplementary documents are not

SWGDRUG recommendations SWGDRUG recommendations Supplementary documents are intended to Supplementary documents are intended to

be a resource for those responsible for be a resource for those responsible for implementing SWGDRUG recommendationsimplementing SWGDRUG recommendations

These documents are not inclusive and These documents are not inclusive and SWGDRUG recognizes that there are many SWGDRUG recognizes that there are many ways of implementing the ways of implementing the recommendationsrecommendations

These are living documents and as such, These are living documents and as such, SWGDRUG invites comments. Send your SWGDRUG invites comments. Send your comments to swgdrug@hotmail.com comments to swgdrug@hotmail.com

Properties for Properties for Validation ProcessValidation Process

Supplemental Document SD-2 for Part IVB entitled Supplemental Document SD-2 for Part IVB entitled “Quality Assurance/Validation of Analytical “Quality Assurance/Validation of Analytical Methods” was Methods” was finalized for publication in February finalized for publication in February 20062006

Designed to assist laboratories develop a general Designed to assist laboratories develop a general validation validation planplan which meet their individual which meet their individual requirementsrequirements

Intended to be used in conjunction with SWGDRUG Intended to be used in conjunction with SWGDRUG Recommendations, Part IVB, Section 2Recommendations, Part IVB, Section 2

The document is organized into two sections:The document is organized into two sections: Section I provides guidance on the issues to Section I provides guidance on the issues to

consider when using various analytical techniquesconsider when using various analytical techniques Section II is an example of a completed validation Section II is an example of a completed validation

planplan

Properties for Properties for Validation ProcessValidation Process

Section 1 of the document is Section 1 of the document is organized into Categories of organized into Categories of Analytical Techniques (IR, MS, HPLC, Analytical Techniques (IR, MS, HPLC, etc.) from Table 1 – Categories A, B etc.) from Table 1 – Categories A, B and Cand C

For each instrument or method, For each instrument or method, specific properties are detailed that specific properties are detailed that could have an effect on how the could have an effect on how the validation process is formulated and validation process is formulated and executedexecuted

Properties for Properties for Validation ProcessValidation Process

Sections titled Sections titled technique strengthstechnique strengths and and technique limitationstechnique limitations have have been added for additional guidancebeen added for additional guidance

The techniques selected for an The techniques selected for an analytical scheme must meet the analytical scheme must meet the SWGDRUG minimum SWGDRUG minimum recommendations for the forensic recommendations for the forensic identification of seized drugs and identification of seized drugs and must not be correlatedmust not be correlated

Properties for Properties for Validation ProcessValidation Process

Section II demonstrates a purpose-Section II demonstrates a purpose-defined validation plan for a defined validation plan for a particular method.particular method.

The aim is to show how a complete The aim is to show how a complete validation plan may appearvalidation plan may appear

The example should not be directly The example should not be directly applied to methodology used by any applied to methodology used by any laboratory without first considering laboratory without first considering the specific purpose of a method and the specific purpose of a method and its relevant operational environmentits relevant operational environment

GlossaryGlossary The accepted revised Glossary of terms The accepted revised Glossary of terms

was adopted by the Core Committee in was adopted by the Core Committee in August 2005August 2005

The Glossary was revised to substitute ISO The Glossary was revised to substitute ISO terms and definitions where feasible to terms and definitions where feasible to promote international acceptancepromote international acceptance

First sought glossaries published by First sought glossaries published by recognized standardizing organizations recognized standardizing organizations like ISO, ASTM, IUPAC, UNDCP, and like ISO, ASTM, IUPAC, UNDCP, and those, where possible, that are primary those, where possible, that are primary sources.sources.

BylawsBylaws Bylaws were adopted by the Core Bylaws were adopted by the Core

Committee in August 2005Committee in August 2005 The Bylaws were drafted to solidify The Bylaws were drafted to solidify

the SWGDRUG processthe SWGDRUG process

New WebsiteNew Website

New WebsiteNew Website New website design as of June 2005New website design as of June 2005 Easier to NavigateEasier to Navigate Promotes better information Promotes better information

exchangeexchange Future features: Future features:

Search EngineSearch Engine Questionnaire FormQuestionnaire Form Membership LoginMembership Login

LogoLogo A logo design A logo design

concept was concept was establishedestablished

Globe to Globe to represent represent international international emphasisemphasis

Brown color Brown color from original from original published published bookletbooklet

SWGDRUG SWGDRUG Information SourcesInformation Sourceswww.swgdrug.orgwww.swgdrug.org

MicrogramMicrogramRegional, National and Regional, National and

International AssociationsInternational AssociationsAAFS, EAFS, ENFSI, IAFSAAFS, EAFS, ENFSI, IAFS

INTERPOLINTERPOL

SWGDRUG Core CommitteeSWGDRUG Core Committee• DEA – Nelson SantosDEA – Nelson Santos• Secretariat – Scott Oulton Secretariat – Scott Oulton (non-voting)(non-voting)• FBI - Eileen WaningerFBI - Eileen Waninger• ASCLD – Garth GlassburgASCLD – Garth Glassburg• NIST - Susan BallouNIST - Susan Ballou• ASTM and NEAFS- Jack ASTM and NEAFS- Jack MarioMario• Educator – Dr. Chris Educator – Dr. Chris TindallTindall

SWGDRUG Core CommitteeSWGDRUG Core Committee• CAC & NWAFS - Jerry CAC & NWAFS - Jerry MassettiMassetti• MAFS - Richard PaulasMAFS - Richard Paulas• MAAFS - Linda JacksonMAAFS - Linda Jackson• SAFS - Dr. Conrad SAFS - Dr. Conrad RobersonRoberson• SWAFS - Gary ChasteenSWAFS - Gary Chasteen• South Africa - Tshepo South Africa - Tshepo SholeShole

SWGDRUG Core CommitteeSWGDRUG Core Committee• Canada - Richard LaingCanada - Richard Laing• Japan - Dr. Kishi TohruJapan - Dr. Kishi Tohru• United Kingdom - Dr. United Kingdom - Dr. Sylvia BurnsSylvia Burns• Australia - Catherine Australia - Catherine QuinnQuinn• Germany - Dr. Udo ZerellGermany - Dr. Udo Zerell• ENFSI - Dr. Erkki SippolaENFSI - Dr. Erkki Sippola• UNODC - Dr. Iphigenia UNODC - Dr. Iphigenia NaidisNaidis

Continue to Make the Continue to Make the SWGDRUG Process a SuccessSWGDRUG Process a Success

All forensic drug analysts must stay All forensic drug analysts must stay involved in the process by contributing involved in the process by contributing comments, criticisms and suggestions.comments, criticisms and suggestions.

Stay informed by reading official sources of Stay informed by reading official sources of information.information.

If you agree with the process, let us know.If you agree with the process, let us know. If you don’t agree with what you are If you don’t agree with what you are

reading in the publication sources, let us reading in the publication sources, let us know.know.

Write or E-mail any core committee Write or E-mail any core committee member.member.