Chemistry

Controlled Substances and Chemical Identification

The Chemistry section provides forensic solutions for a wide range of cases by analyzing and identifying unknown substances. The identification of these chemical substances provides critical evidence that supports law enforcement investigations and court proceedings.

What We Do

The chemistry section has chemists stationed at the three labs throughout the state. These chemists test evidentiary materials for:

Controlled Substances

Purity of Methamphetamine

Clandestine Laboratories

General Chemical Unknowns

Trace Materials

How we do it

Our chemists use a variety of chemical and instrumental methods to identify unknown substances and provide reliable evidence for law enforcement.

Chemical and Instrumental Analysis: Analysts use various chemical tests and instruments, most commonly a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), to identify unknown substances by comparing them to known standards.
Evidence Handling: We analyze evidence from a variety of cases, ranging from drug possession to property damage to homicide, to help build a clear picture for investigators.
Courtroom Testimony: Each analyst is prepared to testify in court to the results of their findings.

A chemist performs a color test on a suspected methamphetamine sample.

Controlled Substances

Analysts test for the presence of controlled substances and controlled substance analogs in powders, solids, liquids, plant material, edibles, paper, pharmaceutical preparations, and residues. The most common substances identified are fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and THC. Most controlled substance cases are completed within 1 week.

Purity of Methamphetamine

Purity of methamphetamine can be completed for federal cases needing actual methamphetamine amounts for sentencing.

Requirement: The questioned sample must be between 5 and 500 grams and a letter from a federal prosecutor requisitioning purity analysis must be submitted to the laboratory with the evidence.

Learn more about requirements for submitting fentanyl

Clandestine Laboratories

Clandestine laboratories are any secret laboratory used to manufacture controlled substances. Historically, methamphetamine labs have been the most common, but other controlled substances are also seen. Chemists can identify the various chemicals present and determine what was being manufactured and by which method.

General Chemical Unknowns

This category covers a wide variety of cases and samples including suspected poisons or adulterated products or food. Please contact the chemistry manager to discuss the specifics of your case.

Trace Evidence

Learn more about how we analyze paint, fibers,fire debris, and more

Learn More