Chemistry

General Information

The chemistry section utilizes the latest forensic science standards and best practices for the analysis of seized drugs and other substances. The section handles approximately 6,200 requests a year, the majority of which include drugs and/or drug paraphernalia. The weight and identity of a suspected drug is critical for law enforcement to be able to proceed through the criminal justice system. The most commonly identified controlled substances include methamphetamine, fentanyl/fentanyl analogs, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol. In general, an analysis consists of a preliminary test and a confirmation test. The confirmation of a controlled substance can be done using GC-MS, FT-IR, GC-IR, or a combination of the listed techniques.

To request a rush on a drug case, email the department with the laboratory case number, defendant's name, date of offense, submitting agency and case number, the date due, and your contact information. The legal statutes regarding testing in drug chemistry are located in the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code.

Standard Operating Procedures

• Administrative (PDF)
• Analysis (PDF)
• Appendix A: GC/MS Methods (PDF)
• Appendix B: Abbreviations (PDF)
• Appendix C: Technical Review Corrections (PDF)
• Appendix D: Balance and Instrument Info (PDF)
• Appendix E: Balance Calibration Checks (PDF)
• Appendix F: PID Sources (PDF)
• Appendix G: Color Tests (PDF)
• Appendix H: Tune Acceptability Criteria (PDF)
• Appendix I: IR Operating Procedure (PDF)
• Appendix J: GC/IR Parameters (PDF)
• Appendix K: Extractions (PDF)
• Appendix L: Macro Instructions (PDF)
• Appendix M: Electronic Data Output (PDF)
• Cannabis (PDF)
• General Chemical Testing (PDF)
• Instrumentation (PDF)
• Quality Control (PDF)