NFLIS_2013survey FINAL

OMB Clearance # 1117-0034
OMB Clearance Expiration Date 03/31/2016

NATIONAL FORENSIC LABORATORY INFORMATION SYSTEM
Survey of Crime Laboratory Drug Chemistry Sections
April 2013

Office of Diversion Control
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Conducted by:

Data from this survey are being collected for the National Forensic Laboratory Information System
(NFLIS). The purpose of this survey is to collect up-to-date information about laboratories and
laboratory systems that routinely conduct analyses of drug samples submitted by State, local, and
Federal law enforcement agencies as the result of seizures, purchases, or finds. This survey is
administered approximately every 4 years.
The data provided by your laboratory will be used to support the operation of the NFLIS data system.
Your individual survey data will be kept confidential. Analysis of the survey data will be used to enhance
the NFLIS and further understand how crime laboratories operate and the issues they face. Survey
data will only be presented in aggregate form with data from other laboratories.
You can complete and return the 2012 NFLIS Survey of Crime Laboratory Drug Chemistry Sections in
the following ways:


Option 1: By submitting online at http://www.nflis.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/.



Option 2: By mail using the enclosed addressed stamped envelope.



Option 3: By fax to the attention of Gina Geercken at 919-485-5555.



Option 4: By requesting an electronic version of the survey by e-mailing nflis-survey2012@rti.org.
Please complete and return the survey by May 13, 2013.

If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, please contact Ellen Causey or Gina
Geercken at 1-800-285-2186.

SECTION A: ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
A1.

Please review your laboratory information below. If any of the following information is
incorrect, please provide the updated information in the space provided.

[LABEL WITH INFORMATION PLACED HERE]

Updated Information:
Laboratory/laboratory system name:
Laboratory/headquarters mailing address:

Laboratory/headquarters FedEX address
(if different from mailing address):

Telephone number:

Fax number:

Laboratory Website:
A2.

Please provide the following information:
Laboratory/laboratory system director name:
Laboratory/laboratory system director e-mail:
Drug chemistry section laboratory contact name:
Drug chemistry section laboratory contact e-mail:

A3.

Which best describes the operation of the laboratory/laboratory system?
Operated by a Federal agency
Operated by a State agency
Operated by a regional entity/agency/task force
Operated by a county
Operated by a city or municipality
Other (specify):

-1-

A4.

Does your laboratory/laboratory system have a laboratory information management
system (LIMS)?
Yes
No

A5.

CONTINUE TO A5
CONTINUE TO A6

What type of LIMS is utilized by your laboratory/laboratory system?
BARD
BEAST
Forensic Advantage
IBM AS 400 Based System
Justice Trax
LabVantage
Lab Ware
NFLIS LIMS (NIMS)
Que-Tel
R. J. Lee Solutions
StarLIMS
Other data management system (specify):
No computerized LIMS (please specify process for documenting case management):

A6.

Does your laboratory routinely conduct drug chemistry (non-toxicology) analyses?
Yes
No

CONTINUE TO A7
STOP, thank you for completing questions A1–A6. Please return this entire
questionnaire as instructed in the information box on the front cover of this
survey.

-2-

A7.

For your laboratory or for each laboratory in your laboratory system, please list the
following:
▪
▪
▪
▪

Laboratory name and location
Date your laboratory was last accredited (provide accrediting body/bodies for your
laboratory)
Type of accreditation
Number of full-time equivalent (FTE) bench personnel who work in the drug chemistry
section. Please use fractions of FTE equivalent if needed. For example, if a manager
works half time as a supervisor and half time as a drug analyst, please report 0.5 FTE
in Managerial and 0.5 FTE in Drug analysts/examiners.

NOTE: IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE LABORATORY IN YOUR LABORATORY SYSTEM,
PLEASE COMPLETE A SEPARATE ROW FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL LABORATORY.

1. Laboratory director, supervisor, QA manager
2. Personnel who examine evidence, etc.
3. Technician, laboratory support personnel, etc.

-3-

Other:

Clerical support

Technical
support3

Drug analysts/
examiners2

Managerial1

Date of other
accreditations

List other
accreditations

ASCLD-LAB
accreditation:
Legacy or ISO

Laboratory
Name/Location

Date last
ASCLD-LAB
accredited

Drug Chemistry Section Accreditation and Staffing
ASCLD-LAB
Other
Number of FTEs as of
Accreditation
Accreditation
December 31, 2012

SECTION B: DRUG CHEMISTRY CASELOAD INFORMATION
For the purposes of this survey, DRUG CASE, ANALYZED CASE, AND ITEMS/EXHIBITS are defined
as follows:


DRUG CASE: Evidence submitted from a single criminal investigation, assigned a unique
identifying laboratory case number.



ANALYZED CASE: A case in which one or more items/exhibits were analyzed for the presence of
a drug and/or controlled substance.



ITEMS/EXHIBITS: One or multiple specimens of a substance having the same appearance and
initially believed to be the same substance. (For example, one bottle containing multiple tablets
having the same physical appearance would be considered one item/exhibit. One plastic bag
containing an ounce of white powder would be one Item/exhibit.)

B1.

Please list the following information for your laboratory/each individual laboratory in
your system:
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪

Laboratory name and location.
The number of drug cases submitted during calendar year 2012.
The number of drug cases analyzed during calendar year 2012.
The number of drug items/exhibits submitted during calendar year 2012.
The number of drug items/exhibits analyzed during calendar year 2012.

NOTE: IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE LABORATORY IN YOUR LABORATORY SYSTEM,
PLEASE COMPLETE A SEPARATE ROW FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL LABORATORY.
Total Number of Drug
Chemistry Cases

Laboratory Name/Location

Submitted
during
2012

Analyzed
during
2012*

Total Number of Drug Chemistry
Items/Exhibits
Items/
exhibits NOT
Submitted
Analyzed
tracked in
during 2012 during 2012*
LIMS

* Include cases/items submitted prior to calendar year 2012 but analyzed in calendar year 2012.

-4-

B2.

Does your laboratory/laboratory system have a policy for analyzing/working all drug
cases submitted to the laboratory?
Yes
No

B3.

Approximately what percentage?

%

Not Tracked

What type of laboratory or laboratories were drug chemistry cases outsourced to during
calendar year 2012? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.)
Did not outsource
SKIP TO B5
Other public or not-for-profit laboratory within your State
Other public or not-for-profit laboratory outside your State
Commercial laboratory within your State
Commercial laboratory outside your State
Federal laboratory

B4.

Why did your laboratory/laboratory system outsource drug chemistry cases for analysis
during calendar year 2012?
To reduce backlog
Lacked capability to conduct the required drug chemistry analysis
Not accredited
Other (specify):

B5.

At the end of calendar year 2012, how many drug chemistry cases were in backlog (cases
that are unanalyzed for 30 days or more after submission to the laboratory)? Please
include unassigned cases and cases currently being processed/worked on but not
completed through final report.
Number:

B6.

What were the major contributors to your backlog? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.)
Influx of emerging drugs
Need to develop testing methods
Loss of staff/FTE
Training responsibilities
Increase in testimony time
Other (specify):

-5-

B7.

How does your current drug chemistry caseload compare to your caseload of 1 year
ago?
Greatly increased (> 20%)
Moderately increased (10%–20%)
Slightly increased (5%–10%)
No change
Slightly decreased (10%–20%)
Moderately decreased (10%–20%)
Greatly decreased (> 20%)

B8.

What is the current average drug chemistry Turnaround Time (TaT) for your laboratory?
TaT refers to the time from submission of a case to the laboratory until the report is
administratively approved (measured in days or portion of days).
Number of Days:
Laboratory Systems Only – please provide range (low and high) for laboratories in your system:
(example: 71–163)

B9.

How does your current drug chemistry TaT compare to 1 year ago?
Greatly increased (> 20%)
Moderately increased (10%–20%)
Slightly increased (5%–10%)
No change
Slightly decreased (10%–20%)
Moderately decreased (10%–20%)
Greatly decreased (> 20%)

-6-

SECTION C: LABORATORY DRUG CHEMISTRY POLICIES
C1.

What are the key reasons your laboratory does NOT analyze drug chemistry cases that
have been submitted? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.)
All submitted cases are analyzed
Laboratory case acceptance guidelines
Case dismissed/no defendant
Guilty plea/plea bargain
Adjudicated without forensic evidence testing
No formal or specific request for analysis is received from arresting officer, submitting
agency, or prosecutor’s office
Items submitted for destruction only
Presumptive Identification
Insufficient sample
Workload pressures
Insufficient funding
State statutory guidelines do not require analysis (e.g., only felony-generating substances
are analyzed)
Other (specify):

C2.

Are all cases involving drug seizures or drugs found by the agencies you serve
submitted to the laboratory?
Yes
SKIP TO QUESTION C4
Varies by agency
No
Don’t know
SKIP TO QUESTION C4

C3.

What are the key reasons that a case seized or found by the agencies you serve would
NOT be submitted to your laboratory? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.)
Field tested cases not submitted unless confirmatory testing is needed
No defendant is identified
Defendant may plead guilty or plea bargain prior to or without submission tothe laboratory
Case dismissed prior to submission to the laboratory
Some drug cases are submitted to another laboratory/other laboratories
Prosecutor has not signed off on the case
Legislative decision, policy, or law dictates what is submitted
Laboratory budgetary constraints
Submitting agency budgetary constraints
Other (specify):

-7-

C4.

What proportion of a drug seizure is routinely submitted to your laboratory?
Only a sample of the total amount seized
Varying amounts
The entire seizure
SKIP TO SECTION D

C5.

What are the key reason(s) that law enforcement agencies submit only a sample of the
amount seized? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.)
Submitting agency has a policy to retain the evidence
Laboratory does not have room to store entire seizure
Laboratory has policy on evidence submission amounts
Security reasons concerning the laboratory storing the seizure
Other (specify):

-8-

SECTION D: DRUG CHEMISTRY TECHNICAL PROCEDURES
D1.

Does your drug chemistry section use the following presumptive identification methods?
(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.)
Visual ID with reference source
Chemical analysis (color tests)
TLC

D2.

Does your drug chemistry section use the following analytical instruments? (CHECK ALL
THAT APPLY.)
FTIR
GC/FID
GC/IRD
GC/MS
GC/MS-MS
HPLC
LC/MS
LC/MS-MS or LC-HRMS
Microscopic examination
Spectrophotometer – UV, visible, fluorescence or Raman
TOF-DART
Other (specify):

D3.

Does your laboratory perform quantitative analyses?
Yes, the laboratory/entire laboratory system performs quantitative analyses
Yes, select laboratories in the laboratory system perform quantitative analyses
No
SKIP TO SECTION E

-9-

State, municipal, or Federal Statutory
Requirement
Laboratory routinely quantitates this
drug
Request from prosecutor(s)
Other:

- 10 -

Other (specify):

Other (specify):

Other
Pharmaceuticals

Narcotic Analgesics

Amphetamine
Type Stimulants

Heroin

Circumstances
Special request from funding agency

Cocaine

Under what circumstances does your laboratory/laboratories perform quantitative
analyses for the following drugs? Amphetamine type stimulants are synthetic stimulants
including amphetamine, methamphetamine, methcathinone, ephedrine,
pseudoephedrine, MDMA, methylphenidate, other phenethylamines, and ecstasy-group
substances. (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.)

Cannabis/THC

D4.

SECTION E: ANALYSTS’ NOTES, EMERGING DRUGS, AND NFLIS ACTIVITIES
E1.

Are your drug analysts’ notes recorded?
Yes
No

E2.

SKIP TO E3

How are your drug analysts’ notes stored? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.)
Analyst notes (electronic)
Analyst notes (hardcopy)
LIMS/Data management system
Case report to prosecutor (hardcopy)
Case report to prosecutor (electronic)
Other (specify):

E3.

Under what circumstances does your laboratory identify non-controlled drugs? (CHECK
ALL THAT APPLY.)
Do not identify non-controlled drugs
SKIP TO E5
Clandestine laboratories
Criminal Investigations
Special requests, by, e.g., a local official; Federal government
Drug of interest (not yet controlled):
Other (specify):

E4.

If a non-controlled drug is identified, how is the information recorded? (CHECK ALL
THAT APPLY.)
Analyst notes (electronic)
Analyst notes (hardcopy)
LIMS/Data management system
Case report to prosecutor (hardcopy)
Case report to prosecutor (electronic)
Other (specify):

E5.

Does your laboratory routinely test for emerging drugs? For this survey, emerging drugs
refer to substances, both controlled and non-controlled, that appeared in your laboratory
within the last 5 years.
Yes, in-house only
Yes, sent to outside laboratory
Yes, combination of in-house and reference laboratory testing
No, do not test for emerging drugs at this time
Depends on the details

- 11 -

E6.

If an emerging drug is identified, how is the information recorded? (CHECK ALL THAT
APPLY.)
Information is not recorded
LIMS/Data management system
Other electronic system
Other (specify):

E7.

Please rate the importance of the following issues associated with the testing of
controlled and non-controlled emerging drugs (drugs that appeared in your laboratory
within the last 5 years).

Aspects of Emerging
Drug Testing
Procurement of standards

Very
Important

Fairly
Important

Slightly
Important

Not at all
Important

No
Opinion

Expense associated with custom
synthesis
Identification of appropriate target
analytes for metabolites
Testing based on case history and
information insufficient
Limited analytical/instrumental
methodology
Limited specimen available for
testing
Validation of the procedures
Limited staffing
Limited budget
Time commitments
Other (please specify):

E8.

Please rate the value of the following NFLIS activities contribute to your laboratory.

NFLIS Activities
Midyear and Annual Reports

A Lot

Special Reports
Web-based Data Query System
Web-based DEA Emerging Drug Forum (Bulletin Board)
Other (please specify):

- 12 -

Some

A
Little

None

No
Opinion

E9.

Briefly describe any additional services you would like to see DEA provide through the
NFLIS program that you think would bring value to your laboratory.

- 13 -

Thank You for Completing this Survey!
Please Return the Survey as Instructed on the Front Cover.

- 14 -