2005/2006 SWGDRUG ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. 2005/2006 SWGDRUG ACCOMPLISHMENTS sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Forensic Sciences and the Office of National Drug Control Policy

2. SWGDRUG Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs

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

4. SWGDRUG Objectives • Specifying requirements for practitioners’ knowledge, skills and abilities, • Promoting professional development, • Providing a means of information exchange within the forensic science community, • Promoting ethical standards of practitioners, • Providing minimum standards for examinations and reporting, • Establishing quality assurance requirements, • Considering relevant international standards, and • Seeking international acceptance of SWGDRUG recommendations

5. 2005 SWGDRUG Process • The SWGDRUG process is an international forensic science community endeavor • The role of the core committee is to vote to accept or reject subcommittee recommendations • In order for a proposal to become an official recommendation, 3/4s of the full core committee must be present. 2/3s of those present must vote in the affirmative (YES) for a proposal to become a recommendation

6. 2005/2006 SWGDRUG Conference Accomplishments • Sampling Seized Drugs • Botanical Material Addition • Supplementary Documents • Validation of Analytical Methods • Glossary • Bylaws • New Website • Logo

7. Sampling for Qualitative Analysis • Adopted by the Core Committee in January 2005 • Goal of the sampling recommendation is to answer relevant questions about a population by only examining a portion • This minimizes the total number of required analytical determinations, while assuring that all relevant legal and scientific requirements are met

8. Sampling for Qualitative Analysis • Sampling Strategy • Population Determination • Sampling Plan • Statistical • Non-Statistical • Sampling Procedure Sampling Scheme

9. Statistical Based Sampling • A Statistically based sampling plan is required if an inference is to be drawn on the entire population • Statistically selected units shall be analyzed to meet SWGDRUG minimum requirements • Statistical approaches include: Hypergeometric, Bayesian, ASTM E-105-58

10. Non-Statistical Sampling • A non-statistical approach may suffice to answer questions related to the presence of a drug, or to address statutory enforcement levels • A non-statistical approach is appropriate if no inferences are to be made about the entire population • Examples of non-statistical approaches include: the UNODC “square root” method and examples from ENFSI 2004 sampling guidelines

11. Population Determination • Population Determination shall take into account all typical forms and quantities in which the exhibit may appear • A population may consist of a single unit or multiple units • A multiple unit population shall consist of items which are similar in relevant visual characteristics

12. Botanical Materials Addition • Adopted by the Core Committee in August 2005 • Allows a properly trained/competent/expert witness in botanical determinations to identify plant material based on documented morphological characteristics • Botanical competence in this context applies to those examiners recognized as professional botanists or those assessed to be competent by such • Internationally, this practice is recognized as conforming to existing standards

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

14. Supplementary Documents • Adopted by the Core Committee in August 2005 • The supplementary documents are not SWGDRUG recommendations • Supplementary documents are intended to be a resource for those responsible for implementing SWGDRUG recommendations • These documents are not inclusive and SWGDRUG recognizes that there are many ways of implementing the recommendations • These are living documents and as such, SWGDRUG invites comments. Send your comments to swgdrug@hotmail.com

15. Properties for Validation Process • Supplemental Document SD-2 for Part IVB entitled “Quality Assurance/Validation of Analytical Methods” was finalized for publication in February 2006 • Designed to assist laboratories develop a general validation plan which meet their individual requirements • Intended to be used in conjunction with SWGDRUG Recommendations, Part IVB, Section 2 • The document is organized into two sections: • Section I provides guidance on the issues to consider when using various analytical techniques • Section II is an example of a completed validation plan

16. Properties for Validation Process • Section 1 of the document is organized into Categories of Analytical Techniques (IR, MS, HPLC, etc.) from Table 1 – Categories A, B and C • For each instrument or method, specific properties are detailed that could have an effect on how the validation process is formulated and executed

17. Properties for Validation Process • Sections titled technique strengths and technique limitations have been added for additional guidance • The techniques selected for an analytical scheme must meet the SWGDRUG minimum recommendations for the forensic identification of seized drugs and must not be correlated

18. Properties for Validation Process • Section II demonstrates a purpose-defined validation plan for a particular method. • The aim is to show how a complete validation plan may appear • The example should not be directly applied to methodology used by any laboratory without first considering the specific purpose of a method and its relevant operational environment

19. Glossary • The accepted revised Glossary of terms was adopted by the Core Committee in August 2005 • The Glossary was revised to substitute ISO terms and definitions where feasible to promote international acceptance • First sought glossaries published by recognized standardizing organizations like ISO, ASTM, IUPAC, UNDCP, and those, where possible, that are primary sources.

20. Bylaws • Bylaws were adopted by the Core Committee in August 2005 • The Bylaws were drafted to solidify the SWGDRUG process

21. New Website

22. New Website • New website design as of June 2005 • Easier to Navigate • Promotes better information exchange • Future features: • Search Engine • Questionnaire Form • Membership Login

23. Logo • A logo design concept was established • Globe to represent international emphasis • Brown color from original published booklet

24. SWGDRUG Information Sources www.swgdrug.org Microgram Regional, National and International Associations AAFS, EAFS, ENFSI, IAFS INTERPOL

25. SWGDRUG Core Committee • DEA – Nelson Santos • Secretariat – Scott Oulton (non-voting) • FBI - Eileen Waninger • ASCLD – Garth Glassburg • NIST - Susan Ballou • ASTM and NEAFS- Jack Mario • Educator – Dr. Chris Tindall

26. SWGDRUG Core Committee • CAC & NWAFS - Jerry Massetti • MAFS - Richard Paulas • MAAFS - Linda Jackson • SAFS - Dr. Conrad Roberson • SWAFS - Gary Chasteen • South Africa - Tshepo Shole

27. SWGDRUG Core Committee • Canada - Richard Laing • Japan - Dr. Kishi Tohru • United Kingdom - Dr. Sylvia Burns • Australia - Catherine Quinn • Germany - Dr. Udo Zerell • ENFSI - Dr. Erkki Sippola • UNODC - Dr. Iphigenia Naidis

28. Continue to Make the SWGDRUG Process a Success • All forensic drug analysts must stay involved in the process by contributing comments, criticisms and suggestions. • Stay informed by reading official sources of information. • If you agree with the process, let us know. • If you don’t agree with what you are reading in the publication sources, let us know. • Write or E-mail any core committee member.