ASTM E2326-04

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:
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.
SCOPE
1.1 This standard 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: 30-Jun-2004
• ICS: 71.040.40 - Chemical analysis
• Technical Committee: E30 - Forensic Sciences
• Drafting Committee: E30.01 - Criminalistics

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E2326-09 - Standard Practice for Education and Training of Seized-Drug Analysts
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2009
• Referred By: ASTM E1968-19 - Standard Practice for Microcrystal Testing in Forensic Analysis for Cocaine
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E1969-19 - Standard Practice for Microcrystal Testing in Forensic Analysis for Methamphetamine and Amphetamine
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2327-15e1 - Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Laboratories Performing Seized-Drug Analysis (Withdrawn 2024)
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2882-19 - Standard Guide for Analysis of Clandestine Drug Laboratory Evidence
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2329-17 - Standard Practice for Identification of Seized Drugs
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E2125-19 - Standard Practice for Microcrystal Testing in Forensic Analysis for Phencyclidine and Its Analogues
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: E 2326 – 04
Standard Practice for
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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope be retained as analysts. The minimum educational require-
ments for a laboratory analyst are either:
1.1 This standard describes prerequisite formal education,
4.1.1 a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a natural science
training, and continuing professional development for those
or applied science, including criminalistics or forensic science,
performing seized-drug analysis. It also describes the kinds of
which shall include lecture and associated laboratory classes in
professional documents (for example, texts, manuals, or jour-
general, organic, and analytical chemistry, or
nals) that should be present in laboratories where analysis of
4.1.2 by January 1, 2005, a minimum of five (5) years
seized drugs is conducted.
practical experience in the area of seized-drug analysis, and
2. Referenced Documents
have demonstrated competency following the completion of a
formal, documented training program and post training com-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
petency assessment.
E 2329 Practice for Identification of Seized Drugs
2.2 Other Document:
5. Continuing Professional Development
Scientific Working Group for theAnalysis of Seized Drugs
5.1 All forensic scientists have an ongoing responsibility to
Recommendations for: Education and Training, Quality
remain current in their field. In addition, laboratories should
Assurance, Methods of Analysis
provide support and opportunities for continuing professional
3. Significance and Use development. Seized-drug analysts are expected to undergo:
5.1.1 a minimum required training of twenty (20) contact
3.1 These are minimum standards applicable to those per-
hours annually. This is not meant to apply to self-paced
forming seized-drug analyses.
learning but does include distance education where there is
3.2 These standards are intended to apply to any laboratory
active interaction between student and instructor.
analyst who:
5.1.1.1 training must be relevant to the laboratory’s analyti-
3.2.1 examines and analyzes seized drugs or related mate-
cal mission.
rials, or directs such examinations to be done,
5.1.1.2 Training completed must be documented.
3.2.2 independently has access to unsealed evidence in
5.1.1.3 Training can be provided from a variety of sources,
order to remove samples from evidence for examination and
including, but not limited to the following:
3.2.3 As a consequence of such examinations, signs reports
(1) chemistry or instrumental courses taught at the post-
for court or investigative purposes.
secondary educational level,
4. Education/Experience Qualifications
(2) instrument operation or maintenance courses taught by
vendors,
4.1 The aim of this standard is that laboratory analysts
(3) in-service classes conducted by employers,
recruited in the future should have at least a bachelor’s degree,
(4) in-service training taught by external providers, and
while allowing existing laboratory analysts without degrees to
(5) participation in relevant scientific meetings or confer-
ences (for example, presenting papers or attending workshops).
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
6. Training For New Analysts
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
6.1 These minimum requirements allow individual labora-
Current edition approved July 1, 2004. Published July 2004.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
tories to structure their training programs to meet their needs as
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
they relate to the type of casework encountered, the analytical
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
techniques and instrumentation available, and the level of
the ASTM website.
preparedness
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