ASTM E2326-09

Standard Practice for Education and Training of Seized-Drug Analysts

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
These are minimum standards applicable to those performing seized-drug analyses.  
These standards are intended to apply to any laboratory analyst who:
examines and analyzes seized drugs or related materials, or directs such examinations to be done,
independently has access to unsealed evidence in order to remove samples from evidence for examination and
As a consequence of such examinations, signs reports for court or investigative purposes.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes prerequisite formal education, training, and continuing professional development for those performing seized-drug analysis. It also describes the kinds of professional documents (for example, texts, manuals, or journals) that should be present in laboratories where analysis of seized drugs is conducted.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2009
• ICS: 71.040.40 - Chemical analysis
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.01 - Criminalistics

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E2326-04 - Standard Practice for Education and Training of Seized-Drug Analysts
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E1969-19 - Standard Practice for Microcrystal Testing in Forensic Analysis for Methamphetamine and Amphetamine
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E2327-15e1 - Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Laboratories Performing Seized-Drug Analysis
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E2882-19 - Standard Guide for Analysis of Clandestine Drug Laboratory Evidence
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E2125-19 - Standard Practice for Microcrystal Testing in Forensic Analysis for Phencyclidine and Its Analogues
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E2329-17 - Standard Practice for Identification of Seized Drugs
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E1968-19 - Standard Practice for Microcrystal Testing in Forensic Analysis for Cocaine
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E2326 − 09
StandardPractice for
1
Education and Training of Seized-Drug Analysts
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2326; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope degree program shall include lecture and associated laboratory
classes in general, organic and analytical chemistry.
1.1 This practice describes prerequisite formal education,
training, and continuing professional development for those
5. Continuing Professional Development
performing seized-drug analysis. It also describes the kinds of
professional documents (for example, texts, manuals, or jour-
5.1 All forensic scientists have an ongoing responsibility to
nals) that should be present in laboratories where analysis of
remain current in their field. In addition, laboratories should
seized drugs is conducted.
provide support and opportunities for continuing professional
development. Seized-drug analysts are expected to undergo:
2. Referenced Documents
5.1.1 Twenty hours of training every year. Training can be
2
either face-to-face interaction with an instructor, distance
2.1 ASTM Standards:
learning or computer based.
E2329 Practice for Identification of Seized Drugs
5.1.1.1 Training must be relevant to the laboratory’s ana-
2.2 Other Document:
lytical mission.
Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs
5.1.1.2 Training completed must be documented.
Recommendations for: Education and Training, Quality
5.1.1.3 Training can be provided from a variety of sources,
Assurance, Methods of Analysis
including, but not limited to the following:
(1) chemistry or instrumental courses taught at the post-
3. Significance and Use
secondary educational level,
3.1 These are minimum standards applicable to those per-
(2) instrument operation or maintenance courses taught by
forming seized-drug analyses.
vendors,
(3) in-service classes conducted by employers,
3.2 These standards are intended to apply to any laboratory
(4) in-service training taught by external providers, and
analyst who:
(5) participation in relevant scientific meetings or confer-
3.2.1 examines and analyzes seized drugs or related
ences(forexample,presentingpapersorattendingworkshops).
materials, or directs such examinations to be done,
3.2.2 independently has access to unsealed evidence in
6. Training For New Analysts
order to remove samples from evidence for examination and
3.2.3 As a consequence of such examinations, signs reports
6.1 These minimum requirements allow individual labora-
for court or investigative purposes.
tories to structure their training programs to meet their needs as
they relate to the type of casework encountered, the analytical
4. Education/Experience Qualifications
techniques and instrumentation available, and the level of
4.1 All newly recruited analysts shall have at least a preparedness of trainees.
bachelor’s degree (or equivalent, generally a three to four year
6.2 Adocumentedtrainingprogram,approvedbylaboratory
post-secondary or tertiary degree) in a natural science or in
management, should focus on development of the theoretical
other sciences relevant to the analysis of seized drugs. The
and practical knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to
examine seized-drug samples and related materials. This must
include:
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
6.2.1 a training syllabus providing descriptions of the
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
knowledge and skills in which analysts are to be trained for
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2009. Published August 2009. Originally
specifictopicareas,milestonesofachievement,andmethodsof
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as E2326 – 04. DOI:
10.1520/E2326-09.
testing or evaluating competency,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
6.2.2 documented standards of performance and a plan for
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
assessing theoretical and practical competency against these
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. standards, for example, written and oral examinations, critical
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2326 − 09
reviews, analysis of unknown samples, mock casework, etc. 7. Reference Literature
per specific topic area,
7.1 The following references must be available and acces
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:E2326–04 Designation: E 2326 – 09
Standard Practice for
1
Education and Training of Seized-Drug Analysts
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2326; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This standardpractice describes prerequisite formal education, training, and continuing professional development for those
performing seized-drug analysis. It also describes the kinds of professional documents (for example, texts, manuals, or journals)
that should be present in laboratories where analysis of seized drugs is conducted.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E2329
E 2329 Practice for Identification of Seized Drugs
2.2 Other Document:
Scientific Working Group for theAnalysis of Seized Drugs Recommendations for: Education and Training, QualityAssurance,
3
Methods of Analysis
3. Significance and Use
3.1 These are minimum standards applicable to those performing seized-drug analyses.
3.2 These standards are intended to apply to any laboratory analyst who:
3.2.1 examines and analyzes seized drugs or related materials, or directs such examinations to be done,
3.2.2 independently has access to unsealed evidence in order to remove samples from evidence for examination and
3.2.3 As a consequence of such examinations, signs reports for court or investigative purposes.
4. Education/Experience Qualifications
4.1The aim of this standard is that laboratory analysts recruited in the future should have at least a bachelor’s degree, while
allowing existing laboratory analysts without degrees to be retained as analysts. The minimum educational requirements for a
laboratory analyst are either:
4.1.1a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a natural science or applied science, including criminalistics or forensic science, which
shall include lecture and associated laboratory classes in general, organic, and analytical chemistry, or
4.1.2by January 1, 2005, a minimum of five (5) years practical experience in the area of seized-drug analysis, and have
demonstrated competency following the completion of a formal, documented training program and post training competency
assessment.
4.1 All newly recruited analysts shall have at least a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent, generally a three to four year
post-secondary or tertiary degree) in a natural science or in other sciences relevant to the analysis of seized drugs. The degree
program shall include lecture and associated laboratory classes in general, organic and analytical chemistry.
5. Continuing Professional Development
5.1 All forensic scientists have an ongoing responsibility to remain current in their field. In addition, laboratories should provide
support and opportunities for continuing professional development. Seized-drug analysts are expected to undergo:
5.1.1a minimum required training of twenty (20) contact hours annually. This is not meant to apply to self-paced learning but
does include distance education where there is active interaction between student and instructor.
5.1.1.1training must be relevant to the laboratory’s analytical mission.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
Current edition approved July 1, 2004. Published July 2004.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2009. Published August 2009. Originally approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as E2326–04.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2326–09
5.1.1 Twenty hours of training every year. Training can be either face-to-face interaction with an instructor, distance learning
or computer based.
5.1.1.1 Training must be relevant to the laboratory’s analytical mission.
5.1.1.2 Training completed must be documented.
5.1.1.3 Training can be provided from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to the following:
(1) chemistry or instrumental courses taught at the
...