The Crime Laboratory is in the final phase of completing the Qiacube validation process. The Biology Unit still needs to review the final validation report, process training samples and complete competency tests prior to the implementation of Qiacube processing in casework. The Crime Laboratory is going to receive seized asset forfeiture funding to purchase a LCMS instrument sometime in 2020. The LCMS will permit the Crime Laboratory to conduct THC quantification testing. We will have to pass an ANAB Assessment, and have quantification testing added to our Scope of Accreditation, prior to beginning quantification casework. Christianne Kellett did an excellent job of identifying a funding source that could be used to purchase a LCMS. In December 2019 Ms. Kellett received City Council permission to use seized asset forfeiture funds to purchase a LCMS instrument for the Crime Laboratory. The City’s procurement process is extremely slow, and as the end of May 2020 we still have not received permission from IT Purchasing to order the instrument. The Crime Laboratory also has grant funding to validate STRMIX (probabilistic genotyping); however, the Texas Forensic Science Commission has launched a Working Group regarding STRMIX (including a committee focused on validation), so this project is currently on hold. The Crime Laboratory needs funding to purchase two new FTIR instruments. The Lab’s current FTIRs are so old that the manufacture has advised us that they will not provide service to those instruments after the 2020 calendar year. |