Field Confirmation Testing for Suspicious Substances

Designed specifically for on-the-spot forensic investigations, this book discusses how to confirm the reported identity of a substance when the identity of the hazardous material is suspected but is not considered reliable. It covers methods to verify the accuracy of a label to the contents by using a matrix of field tests. The author provides instruction on how to gather as much information as possible from the reported or labeled contents and how to use the information to determine which physical and chemical tests listed in the book will confirm the identity of the suspect compound.

Frequently a substance found at a port of entry, waste site, laboratory triage facility, or even in a hazardous materials emergency will be labeled and purportedly identified. But law enforcement and other first responders cannot take this claim at face value, as the accuracy is not confirmed and must be verified. A comprehensive handbook for on-the-spot investigations, Field Confirmation Testing for Suspicious Substances provides those who confront suspicious substances with the tools to confirm or deny a labeled identity.

A Complete Range of Testing Protocols

Divided into three sections, the book begins by exploring physical confirmation tests which use methods that involve measurement of temperature, vapor density, radioactivity, and other factors. The author then examines chemical confirmation tests suitable for field use, providing over 400 different analyses, most of which provide a colorimetric result. The book also includes a section on instrumentation. It offers an overview of the technologies used to analyze materials and presents the strengths and weaknesses of the technology so that the corresponding weak or strong result can be used in the overall analysis. The appendix provides two detailed sections on drug and explosives tests.

The tests in this book can immediately generate valuable information in the field which can be used to save lives, conserve property, provide environmental protection, and assist law enforcement in apprehending those responsible for disseminating hazardous substances.