Virginia Department of Forensic Science Toxicology PDF

Revised 11/28/2023 VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE EVIDENCE HANDLING & LABORATORY CAPABILITIES GUIDE TOXICOLOGY Contact Information If you have any questions concerning the Toxicology laboratory e...

Revised 11/28/2023 VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE EVIDENCE HANDLING & LABORATORY CAPABILITIES GUIDE TOXICOLOGY Contact Information If you have any questions concerning the Toxicology laboratory examination capabilities or evidence handling procedures, please call the Training Section or the Toxicology Section at the Forensic Laboratory that services your area. Laboratory Section Contact Phone Number Central Dr. Jayne Thatcher (804) 588-4191 Eastern Dr. Connie Luckie (757) 355-5847 Northern Dr. Carol O’Neal (703) 334-9739 Western Dr. Trista Wright (540) 283-5990 © 2023 Virginia Department of Forensic Science Toxicology - Page 1 of 9  Revised 11/28/2023 OVERVIEW The Toxicology Section analyzes blood and other biological samples for the presence of alcohol, drugs and poisons. Types of cases analyzed include driving under the influence/driving under the influence of drugs (DUI/DUID), drug-facilitated crimes, death investigations, and other investigations that may involve toxicology testing. In addition, the Toxicology Section analyzes beverages for the presence of alcohol. The Virginia Department of Forensic Science (DFS) supplies DUI/DUID Blood Specimen Collection Kits to law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth. For each jurisdiction, DFS has designated the regional laboratory to which the agency should submit/mail the Blood Specimen Collection Kits for testing. Testing and testimony will be provided from that DFS regional laboratory. The laboratory designated to receive your Blood Specimen Collection Kits may not be the laboratory to which you submit other forensic evidence. The designation is based upon which laboratory is best able to provide your jurisdiction the timeliest service. Blood Specimen Collection Kits are supplied from DFS with the correctly designated laboratory address on the mailing box. No secondary mailing package is necessary for the collection kits. An Uncertainty of Measurement (UoM) statement appears on the completed Certificate of Analysis (CoA). All measurements have some amount of variation expected within the measurement process. This variation in measurement of alcohol and/or drug concentration has been calculated and will be reported on the CoA. CAPABILITIES AND SERVICES Volatile compounds (ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, acetone, etc.) Drugs of abuse Over the counter and prescription medications Miscellaneous (e.g., carbon monoxide, heavy metals) Alcoholic Beverage Content COLLECTION GUIDELINES ITEM - DUI/DUID Samples (collected pursuant to implied consent or search warrant using a DFS DUI/DUID Blood Specimen Collection Kit) PROCESS - Use a DUI/DUID Blood Specimen Collection Kit provided by DFS. This kit includes two gray top blood vials, two Certificates of Blood Withdrawal (CBW), a DUI/DUID Submission Information Sheet, povidone iodine swab to cleanse arm, and evidence seals. Please fill out and submit the DUI/DUID Submission Information Sheet with the kit indicating the investigating officer, agency, drug-recognition expert information, suspect, jurisdiction, and any facts pertinent to the case. © 2023 Virginia Department of Forensic Science Toxicology - Page 2 of 9  Revised 11/28/2023 Have a physician, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, phlebotomist, graduate laboratory technician or a technician or nurse designated by order of a circuit court acting upon the recommendation of a licensed physician, use the povidone iodine swab to cleanse the arm and withdraw blood into the two vacutainer tubes provided by DFS (§18.2-268.5). (Figure 1) The vials shall be sealed by the person taking the sample, or at his/her direction. (Figure 2) The person who seals the vials shall complete the pre-numbered Certificate of Blood Withdrawal forms (CBW) and attach one CBW to each vial. (Figures 3 and 4) The vials shall be placed in a container provided by DFS and the container shall be sealed to prevent tampering with the vials (§18.2-268.6). (Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8) Promptly transport or mail the DUI/DUID container to the designated laboratory address indicated on the mailing box. If the accused is known to have a blood borne disease (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, etc.) the kit must be hand delivered to DFS and indicate this on the Request for Laboratory Examination (RFLE) form. Figure 1: Gray top blood vials filled with blood. Figure 2: Vials properly sealed using the provided evidence seals. Remove backing from Part A and adhere to vial. Do not remove backing from Part B Figure 3: CBWs completed by authorized personnel. Figure 4: CBW properly affixed to left vial. Note: Only small numbered strip (Part A) is affixed to the vial. DO NOT remove entire backing and do not tear the CBW at the perforation. © 2023 Virginia Department of Forensic Science Toxicology - Page 3 of 9  Revised 11/28/2023 Figure 5: Completed blood vials in specimen holder. Figure 6: Blood specimin holder with sleeve placed into plastic bag. Seal Figure 7: Bag with specimens placed into outer container. Figure 8: Sealed outer container. (Place in mailing envelope marked BIOHAZARD, along with RFLE, and mail to appropriate DFS laboratory) CONSIDERATION - Once the examination is complete, the completed CoA, with the affixed CBW, will be mailed to the clerk of the court in which the charge will be heard (a copy of the CoA will be mailed to the investigating officer(s) if that information is available). Upon completion of the examination, DFS will preserve the remainder of the blood sample for at least 120 days. DFS will then destroy the remainder of the blood sample if no notice of or court order to transmit the blood sample to an independent laboratory or request to return the evidence from the Commonwealth’s Attorney is received (§18.2-268.7). NOTE: Do NOT adhere the entire CBW to the vial or wrap the CBW around the vials in any way other than demonstrated above. Do NOT place vial seal over the CBW. Examples of incorrect CBW placement are below: © 2023 Virginia Department of Forensic Science Toxicology - Page 4 of 9  Revised 11/28/2023 Figure 9: Incorrect CBW and vial seal placement on vials. The DFS Toxicology Section uses a protocol (see Toxicology Procedures Manual on the Manuals and Procedures page at the DFS website) for testing blood samples in implied consent or search warrant cases using a DFS DUI/DUID Blood Specimen Collection Kit. The DUI/DUID protocol is designed to identify alcohol and drugs that can impair driving using two levels of testing as delineated in the table below. Additional testing may be conducted if specifically requested or at the discretion of a DFS toxicologist. This protocol incorporates an expanded immunoassay screening panel and allows for a more streamlined analysis process. Testing Protocol © 2023 Virginia Department of Forensic Science Toxicology - Page 5 of 9  Revised 11/28/2023 BAC Determination: Blood Alcohol Content Determination DUID Screening Panel (Immunoassay) Includes: -Amphetamine -Barbiturates -Benzodiazepines -Buprenorphine -Cannabinoids -Carisoprodol/meprobamate -Cocaine/Benzoylecgonine -Dextromethorphan -Diphenhydramine -Fentanyl -Methadone -Methamphetamine/MDMA -Opiates -Oxycodone/oxymorphone -Phencyclidine (PCP) -Tramadol -Tricyclic antidepressants -Zolpidem Example Report Wording Resulting from Each Scenario Scenario 1: Blood alcohol level was greater than 0.100%w/v, screened for cannabinoids, and no cannabinoids were detected. Blood Alcohol Content 0.110 ± 0.005% by weight by volume. Method: Alcohols by Headspace Gas Chromatography No other drugs and/or drug classes were detected. The specimen was screened for the following drugs, drug classes and/or substances: Ethanol (blood alcohol), methanol, acetone, isopropanol, cannabinoids. Supporting examination documentation is maintained in the case file. The above-listed methods are those approved for use at the time of analysis. All methods can be found in the Toxicology Procedures Manual which can be found at https://www.dfs.virginia.gov/documentation-publications/manuals/. Measurement uncertainty is reported at a 95.45% level of confidence for all toxicological analyses except blood alcohol or ethanol which is reported at a 99.73% level of confidence. Scenario 2: Blood alcohol level was less than 0.100%w/v and oxycodone was present and quantified. © 2023 Virginia Department of Forensic Science Toxicology - Page 6 of 9  Revised 11/28/2023 Blood Alcohol Content 0.025 ± 0.001% by weight by volume Method: Alcohols by Headspace Gas Chromatography Oxycodone 0.12 ± 0.02 mg/L Method: Opioid, Cocaine, Benzoylecgonine, Cocaethylene Quantitation and Confirmation by LCMSMS No other drugs and/or drug classes were detected. The specimen was screened for the following drugs, drug classes and/or substances: Ethanol (blood alcohol), methanol, acetone, isopropanol, cocaine/benzoylecgonine, opiates, oxycodone/oxymorphone, methamphetamine/methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), phencyclidine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, carisoprodol/meprobamate, fentanyl, methadone, cannabinoids, zolpidem, diphenhydramine/cyclobenzaprine, dextromethorphan, tramadol, tricyclic antidepressants, buprenorphine/norbuprenorphine. Supporting examination documentation is maintained in the case file. The above-listed methods are those approved for use at the time of analysis. All methods can be found in the Toxicology Procedures Manual which can be found at https://www.dfs.virginia.gov/documentation-publications/manuals/. Measurement uncertainty is reported at a 95.45% level of confidence for all toxicological analyses except blood alcohol or ethanol which is reported at a 99.73% level of confidence. Scenario 3: Blood alcohol level was less than 0.100%w/v and no drugs or drug classes screened positive. Blood Alcohol Content 0.025±0.001% by weight by volume Method: Alcohols by Headspace Gas Chromatography No other drugs and/or drug classes were detected. The specimen was screened for the following drugs and/or drug classes: Ethanol (blood alcohol), methanol, acetone, isopropanol, cocaine/benzoylecgonine, opiates, oxycodone/oxymorphone, methamphetamine/methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), phencyclidine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, carisoprodol/meprobamate, fentanyl, methadone, cannabinoids, zolpidem, diphenhydramine/cyclobenzaprine, dextromethorphan, tramadol, tricyclic antidepressants, buprenorphine/norbuprenorphine. Supporting examination documentation is maintained in the case file. The above-listed methods are those approved for use at the time of analysis. All methods can be found in the Toxicology Procedures Manual which can be found at https://www.dfs.virginia.gov/documentation-publications/manuals/. Measurement uncertainty is reported at a 95.45% level of confidence for all toxicological analyses except blood alcohol or ethanol which is reported at a 99.73% level of confidence. ITEM – Non-implied consent cases: DUI/DUID which do NOT use the DFS DUI/DUID Blood Specimen Collection Kit If the suspect had used or ingested drugs recently (