Department of Forensic Science COPYRIGHT © 2021 TRACEVIRGINIA EVIDENCE PROCEDURESDEPARTMENT MANUAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCE 222-D100 Trace Evidence Procedures Manual Qualtrax ID: 3005 Issued by Chemistry Program Manager UNCONTROLLED Qualtrax Revision 12 Issue Date: 19-March-2021 Page 1 of 201 COPY Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction 2 Explosives 2.1 Analytical Approach 2.2 Physical Examination 2.3 Analysis of Chemical Reaction Devices 2.4 Analysis of Unconsumed Pyrotechnic Safety Fuse 2.5 Analysis of Unconsumed Low Explosive Powder 2.6 Analysis of Intact High Explosives 2.7 Extractions 2.8 Microchemical Spot Tests 2.9 Ignition Test 2.10 Instrumental Analysis 2.11 Documentation 2.12 Report Wording COPYRIGHT © 2021 3 Fibers 3.1 Analytical Approach 3.2 Recovery of Hairs and/or Fibers VIRGINIA 3.3 Fiber Identification 3.4 Fiber Comparison DEPARTMENT 3.5 Fabric Construction 3.6 Ropes and Cordage 3.7 Documentation OF 3.8 Report Wording FORENSIC SCIENCE 4 Fire Debris 4.1 Analytical Approach 4.2 Direct Injections 4.3 Ambient Headspace 4.4 Solvent Extraction 4.5 Passive Adsorption-Elution 4.6 Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) 4.7 Identification Criteria 4.8 Documentation 4.9 Report Wording 5 Fracture Match 5.1 Purpose 5.2 Analytical Approach 5.3 Minimum Standards and Controls 5.4 Analytical Procedures 5.5 References 5.6 Documentation 5.7 Report Wording 6 General Chemical 6.1 Analytical Approach 6.2 Minimum Standards and Controls, Documentation, Report Wording 6.3 Acids and Bases 222-D100 Trace Evidence Procedures Manual Qualtrax ID: 3005 Issued by Chemistry Program Manager UNCONTROLLED Qualtrax Revision 12 Issue Date: 19-March-2021 Page 2 of 201 COPY Table of Contents 6.4 Bank Dyes 6.5 Nitrous Oxide and Halogenated Hydrocarbons 6.6 Red Phosphorus, Lithium and Iodine 6.7 Salt 6.8 Sugars 6.9 Tapes and Adhesives 6.10 Tear Gas and Pepper Sprays 6.11 Vegetable Oil Based Products 7 Glass 7.1 Analytical Approach 7.2 Recovery of Glass Particles from Clothing and Objects 7.3 Physical Properties 7.4 Refractive Index (RI) Measurement by GRIM3 System 7.5 Direction-of-Impact 7.6 Sequence-of-Impact 7.7 Documentation COPYRIGHT © 2021 7.8 Formation of the Opinion in Glass Comparisons 7.9 Report Wording 8 Hair VIRGINIA 8.1 Analytical Approach 8.2 Recovery of Hairs and/or FibersDEPARTMENT 8.3 Human and Animal Hair Identification 8.4 Evaluation of Human Hairs for Nuclear DNA Suitability 8.5 Evaluation of Human Hairs for MitochondrialOF DNA Suitability 8.6 Documentation 8.7 Report Wording FORENSIC SCIENCE 9 Paint 9.1 Analytical Approach 9.2 Paint Recovery Techniques 9.3 Macroscopic/Microscopic Examination 9.4 Microchemical Tests 9.5 Fluorescence 9.6 Instrumental Analysis 9.7 Documentation 9.8 Report Wording 10 Primer Residue 10.1 Analytical Approach 10.2 Carbon Evaporation 10.3 Automated SEM-EDS Primer Residue Analysis, ASPEX: VP2000, 3000, and Explorer 10.4 Documentation 10.5 Cartridge Case Residue Examination 10.6 Inanimate Objects Examination 10.7 Report Wording 11 Lamp Filaments 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Safety Considerations 11.3 Equipment 222-D100 Trace Evidence Procedures Manual Qualtrax ID: 3005 Issued by Chemistry Program Manager UNCONTROLLED Qualtrax Revision 12 Issue Date: 19-March-2021 Page 3 of 201 COPY Table of Contents 11.4 Minimum Standards and Controls 11.5 Procedure 11.6 Interpretation of Results and Reporting 11.7 Full Report Wording Examples 11.8 References 12 Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) 12.1 Overview 12.2 Bench QC 12.3 Microscope Accessory QC 12.4 ATR Accessories 12.5 Casework Analysis 12.6 Instrumental Conditions 12.7 Maintenance 13 Gas Chromatograph (GC) COPYRIGHT © 2021 13.1 Materials 13.2 Maintenance 13.3 QC Procedures 13.4 Analysis of Casework Samples 13.5 Documentation VIRGINIA 13.6 Generally Used GC-FID MethodsDEPARTMENT 14 Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) 14.1 Materials OF 14.2 Maintenance 14.3 QC Procedures FORENSIC SCIENCE 14.4 Analysis of Casework Samples 14.5 Documentation 14.6 Generally Used GC-MS Methods 15 Glass Refractive Index Measurement System (GRIM3) 15.1 Logs 15.2 Calibration 15.3 Monthly QA 15.4 Day-of-Use QA 15.5 Case QC Check 16 Ion Chromatograph (IC) 17 Microspectrophotometer (MSP) 17.1 Overview 17.2 Analysis of Casework Samples 17.3 Maintenance 17.4 Reference 18 Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (SEM-EDS) 18.1 General 18.2 ASPEX Daily Operations Log 18.3 SEM-EDS System Maintenance Schedule 18.4 ASPEX Emergency Shutdown Procedures 222-D100 Trace Evidence Procedures Manual Qualtrax ID: 3005 Issued by Chemistry Program Manager UNCONTROLLED Qualtrax Revision 12 Issue Date: 19-March-2021 Page 4 of 201 COPY Table of Contents 18.5 ASPEX EDS System 18.6 SEM-EDS Primer Residue Kit – QC 19 X-Ray Powder Diffractometer (XRD) 19.1 Logs 19.2 Monthly QC 19.3 Day-of-Use QC 20 Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) 20.1 Introduction 20.2 Logs and Worksheet 20.3 Safety Considerations 20.4 Day-of-Use Quality Assurance 20.5 Analytical Procedure 20.6 Quality Assurance Acceptance Criteria 20.7 References COPYRIGHT © 2021 21 Reporting Guidelines 22 Quality Assurance VIRGINIA 22.1 Introduction 22.2 Balances DEPARTMENT 22.3 Chemicals and Reagents 22.4 Critical Supplies 22.5 Eppendorf Pipettes OF 22.6 Digital Calipers 22.7 Microscopes FORENSIC SCIENCE 22.8 pH Meter 22.9 Refrigerators and Freezers 22.10 Thermometers and Ovens 22.11 Handheld UV Source 23 Commonly Used Abbreviations 222-D100 Trace Evidence Procedures Manual Qualtrax ID: 3005 Issued by Chemistry Program Manager UNCONTROLLED Qualtrax Revision 12 Issue Date: 19-March-2021 Page 5 of 201 COPY 1 Introduction 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Trace Evidence examinations comprise a wide variety of evidence types. This manual consists of the procedures most routinely used to analyze evidence submitted to the Trace Evidence (TE) Section (the Section) of the Virginia Department of Forensic Science (the Department, DFS). This manual, in combination with the Section Training Manual, provides the basis for effective quality management of analyses. The Department’s Quality Manual (QM) and Safety Manual provide additional guidelines. 1.2 This manual is not all-inclusive. Its purpose is to provide a framework of analytical procedures for the Trace Evidence Examiner. Every effort has been made to document the routine procedures used by the Section and to provide appropriate references. Many procedures have been adapted from standard laboratory practices and, therefore, no specific reference may be available. For examinations that involve the comparison of an unknown to a known, the unknown item(s) shall be evaluated to identify general characteristics suitable for comparison prior to examination of the known item(s). The examiner’s case notes must document the extent to which this evaluation was performed. 1.3 Every case is unique and must be evaluated by the individual examiner. Not all possible analyses that may be encountered in casework canCOPYRIGHT be appropriately covered in a procedures © 20 manual21 nor can all possible variations to a described procedure be included. It is always the examiner’s responsibility to choose the best analytical scheme for each individual case, particularly for evidence not routinely encountered. It is expected that Supervisors or the Chemistry Program Manager will be consulted for extraordinary procedures and that deviations from existing procedures shall occur in accordance withVIRGINIA the Department’s QM. 1.3.1 New methods must be validated before use. Published methods must be verified to work in each Regional Laboratory beforeDEPARTMENT use. Prior to beginning a validation process, consult the Chemistry Program Manager for an appropriate validation plan. 1.4 Reference collections of data or materials used forOF identification, comparison or interpretation shall be fully documented, uniquely identified and properly controlled. FORENSIC SCIENCE 1.4.1 Purchased reference collections of data or materials are obtained with documentation and unique identification of the data or materials. 1.4.1.1 Examples of these types of reference collections include, but are not limited to: GC-MS Libraries, both electronic and hard copy (e.g., NIST, Wiley, EPA/NIH) FTIR Libraries, both electronic and hard copy (e.g., Sadtler, Aldrich, Hummel, Georgia State) Microtrace Forensic Fiber Reference Collection Collaborative Testing Services, Inc. Reference Collection of Synthetic Fibers Scientific Polymer Products, Polymer Sample Kits Locke Certified Glass Standards Supelco Inc. or Alltech/Applied Science Hydrocarbon and Alcohol Kits Collaborative Testing Automotive Paints PDQ Paint Data Query paint database (not purchased, obtained from the RCMP) Automotive Refinish Color Collection NCFS Ignitable Liquids Reference Collection 1.4.2 In-house reference collections of materials shall be uniquely identified. 1.4.2.1 Purchased or donated materials may be identified by name and a laboratory identification number. New entries shall have the name, laboratory identification number, source of material and the date and initials of the person who obtained the material. 222-D100 Trace Evidence Procedures Manual Qualtrax ID: 3005 Issued by Chemistry Program Manager UNCONTROLLED Qualtrax Revision 12 Issue Date: 19-March-2021 Page 6 of 201 COPY 1 Introduction Current in-house reference collections of materials include: Ignitable Liquids (Statewide) Tapes (Central) Pigment Powder (Central) Explosives (Central) Fibers (Central) 1.4.2.1.1 Data generated and retained from these products must be correlated to the specific product with the laboratory identification number. 1.4.2.1.2 A spreadsheet inventory of the contents of these reference collections will be maintained on the Trace Evidence Shared Folders. 1.4.2.1.3 All examiners in the Section are responsible for properly labeling and entering new reference collection items into the spreadsheet.