(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Alaska Department of Public Safety Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory announced last week it has discovered irregularities involving six controlled substance reference standards used in the testing of illegal drugs. Those six controlled substances are morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, opium, codeine, and amphetamine. Foreign matter was discovered in these controlled substance reference standards. An audit of the Crime Lab’s controlled substance reference standards is underway.

According to a news release from the Alaska Department of Public Safety, the irregularities found do not impact the Crime Lab’s ability to identify submitted suspected controlled substances or the scientific validity of past lab tests.

Investigators are working closely with the Alaska Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals. The Alaska Department of Law is in the process of notifying defense attorneys who may have cases that involved these standards. Due to the "ongoing criminal investigation", no further information is available at this time.

The irregularities were discovered when new, more sensitive testing instruments began to be used by the Crime Lab. The discovery of irregularities in the standards has prompted a broader review, to include a criminal investigation, which is being performed by the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Bureau of Investigation.

The Crime Lab is also notifying its accrediting body, The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

Alaska Department of Public Safety
www.dps.state.ak.us

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