The Crime Lab Drug Identification Unit analyzes evidence submitted by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department for the presence or absence of controlled substances.
Types of evidence typically received by the Drug Identification Unit include powders, tablets/capsules, plant material, and other substances suspected to contain controlled substances.
Several analytical techniques are utilized to confirm controlled substances in evidence submissions such as Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography/Infrared Spectroscopy. Scientists will often present their findings as an expert witness in a court of law.
The Toxicology Unit provides services in the analysis of blood for the presence of alcohol and drugs, primarily in Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases. The purpose of the Unit is to provide our client with comprehensive screening and confirmatory/quantitative testing that can be used in a court of law.
For the analysis of alcohol, the Toxicology Unit utilizes Headspace Gas Chromatography with Dual Flame Ionization.
For the analysis of drugs, the laboratory is currently outsourcing these services to an approved vendor laboratory while we enhance our in-house capabilities. This service is not under our scope of accreditation.
