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Seized Drugs Training Guide for Marihuana Comparative and Analytical Division

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Seized Drugs Training Guide for Marihuana Comparative and Analytical Division Seized Drugs Training Guide for Marihuana Comparative and Analytical Division Seized Drugs Training Guide for Marihuana Comparative & Analytical Division Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL ORIENTATION ..................................................................................... 3 2. MARIHUANA AND THC ........................................................................................................................ 10 3. MEASUREMENTS AND SAMPLING ...................................................................................................... 24 4. EVIDENCE HANDLING .......................................................................................................................... 30 5. REPORTING OF RESULTS ..................................................................................................................... 33 6. CASE FILE DOCUMENTATION .............................................................................................................. 35 7. MONITORED ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................................... 37 8. TRAINEE EVALUATION – COMPETENCY SAMPLES .............................................................................. 39 9. TRAINEE EVALUATION – FINAL WRITTEN EXAMINATION ................................................................... 41 10. MODIFICATION SUMMARY ................................................................................................................. 43 Training Guide for Marihuana Document ID: 4882 Issued By: Section Manager Issue Date: June 11, 2018 Uncontrolled When Printed Page 2 of 43 Seized Drugs Training Guide for Marihuana Comparative & Analytical Division 1. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL ORIENTATION TRAINING SYLLABUS AND CHECKLIST FOR MARIHUANA Trainee____________________________________________ Employee Number_______________________ Trainer____________________________________________ Date Training Begins_____________________ Date of Trainer & Receipt or Trainee Topics Completion Initials 1 – Introduction and General Orientation Tour of Facilities and Assigned Work Area ____________ ____________ Receipt of Training Guide for Marihuana ____________ ____________ Receipt of Sectional Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) ____________ ____________ Review of Training Syllabus and Checklist ____________ ____________ Review of Training Guidelines ____________ ____________ Discussion of Organizational Structure ____________ ____________ Discussion of Quality Assurance / Accreditation ____________ ____________ Review SOP 01 – Goals and Objectives ____________ ____________ Review of Skills and Knowledge Questionnaire ____________ ____________ Safety Training ____________ ____________ 2 – Marihuana and THC Independent Reading ____________ ____________ Review of the control status of Marihuana and THC ____________ ____________ Review following sections: Section 2 Material ____________ ____________ SOP 13 – Chemical Spot Tests (Duquenois-Levine Test) ____________ ____________ SOP 12 – Reagent Quality Assurance ____________ ____________ SOP 11 – Drug Standards and Reference Sources ____________ ____________ SOP 3 – Analysis Guidelines (Plant Substance) ____________ ____________ SOP 20 – Abbreviations ____________ ____________ SOP 5 – Worksheets ____________ ____________ Training Guide for Marihuana Document ID: 4882 Issued By: Section Manager Issue Date: June 11, 2018 Uncontrolled When Printed Page 3 of 43 Seized Drugs Training Guide for Marihuana Comparative & Analytical Division Review Examination Sheet Documentation for Marihuana and THC (including Marihuana Checklist) ____________ ____________ Complete Practice Samples for Plant Substance and Hashish (if available) ____________ ____________ 3 – Measurements and Sampling Independent Reading ____________ ____________ Review following sections: Section 3 Material ____________ ____________ Quality Manual – Sampling ____________ ____________ SOP 6 – Instrument Performance and Maintenance (Balances) ____________ ____________ SOP 18 – Weighing Practices and Estimation of the Uncertainty of Measurement (UM) ____________ ____________ SOP 3 – Analysis Guidelines (Sampling Guidelines) ____________ ____________ Complete and Review Practice Exercises ____________ ____________ Review Examination Sheet Documentation for Weights and UM ____________ ____________ 4 – Evidence Handling Review following sections: Section 4 Material ____________ ____________ Quality Manual – Handling of Evidence ____________ ____________ SOP 2 – Evidence Handling ____________ ____________ Review Evidence Submission forms ____________ ____________ Review chain of custody transfers and case assignments using LIMS ____________ ____________ 5 – Reporting of Results Review following sections: Section 5 Material ____________ ____________ Quality Manual – Reporting the Results ____________ ____________ SOP 19 – Reporting Guidelines ____________ ____________ Review generating reports using LIMS ____________ ____________ 6 – Case File Documentation Review following sections: Section 6 Material ____________ ____________ Quality Manual – Document Control ____________ ____________ Training Guide for Marihuana Document ID: 4882 Issued By: Section Manager Issue Date: June 11, 2018 Uncontrolled When Printed Page 4 of 43 Seized Drugs Training Guide for Marihuana Comparative & Analytical Division Quality Manual – Control of Records ____________ ____________ SOP 4 – Case Documentation ____________ ____________ 7 – Monitored Analysis Performed by Trainee Trainer observed analysis of at least 10 plant substance cases including receipt of evidence, analysis, reporting of results, and return of evidence. ____________ ____________ 8 – Trainee Evaluation – Competency Samples Practice samples to be identified and a report generated by Trainee with assistance as needed ____________ ____________ Six competence samples to be identified and a report generated by Trainee without assistance ____________ ____________ 9 – Trainee Evaluation – Final Written Examination Receive Study Guide and Review with Trainer ____________ ____________ Take Comprehensive Final Written Exam and Pass with 90% ____________ ____________ Trainer Approval Date________________________ Section Manager Approval Date________________________ Quality Approval Date________________________ Training Guide for Marihuana Document ID: 4882 Issued By: Section Manager Issue Date: June 11, 2018 Uncontrolled When Printed Page 5 of 43 Seized Drugs Training Guide for Marihuana Comparative & Analytical Division TRAINING GUIDELINES FOR NEW EMPLOYEES • The purpose of this manual is to provide a uniform coordination of the training of new employees to the Seized Drugs section of the Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC). This manual is intended to be used in a formal training program that will establish a certain minimum standard of professional competency for the analysis of submitted evidence suspected of containing marihuana. • Training is expected to last approximately 3-4 weeks. The program includes formal lectures, assigned reading, practical exercises, instrument training and practice, monitored case work, identification of unknown competency samples, and written examination. At the end of the training program, the trainee will have the basic skills necessary to perform analysis on most plant substance evidence received for analysis by the Seized Drugs section. • The training program for the Seized Drugs section will be overseen by a Training Coordinator (TC) who will be the Seized Drugs section Manager or a designee. Actual training of new employees will be conducted by the Section Manager designated Trainer(s) who may in turn delegate certain duties and blocks of instruction to other analysts with the approval of the Section Manager. • All trainees are expected to be present during the training period. It is the responsibility of the trainee to obtain any information missed due to absence. • Trainees are expected to learn all material thoroughly. The time to ask questions is during the training process. • Trainees are expected to keep a personal log of their activities during training. The log may be in written or electronic format. A weekly summary is to be provided to the Trainer. • The performance of the trainee will need to be evaluated throughout the program. This evaluation will consist of periodic oral reviews and review of documentation for practical exercises. The Trainer will in turn advise the Section Manager of the trainee's progress throughout the training period. • After the necessary material has been covered by the Trainer, each trainee will be expected to identify 6 unknown competency samples. During the identification process, each trainee is expected to work independently. This means that the trainee is not allowed to ask questions Training Guide for Marihuana Document ID: 4882 Issued By: Section Manager Issue Date: June 11, 2018 Uncontrolled When Printed Page 6 of 43 Seized Drugs Training Guide for Marihuana Comparative & Analytical Division about the meaning of any test result nor about the operation of any equipment. The other analysts will be informed when the competency sample analysis begins to ensure that the trainees are left alone to do their analysis. • A final written exam will be given over information provided in the training guide, during laboratory practical examinations, and in the reading materials. A study guide will be provided to the trainee which will be reviewed with the
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