2021 MNPD Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant

In 2019, the Toxicology Subcommittee of the Organizational Scientific Area Committee established a standard for the analytical scope and recommended drug testing levels for forensic toxicology testing in impaired driving investigations.1 At present, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Crime Laboratory (MNPD-CL) Toxicology Unit is unable to meet these recommendations, particularly for some opioids, due to the age and lack of sensitivity of the SCIEX 3200 QTRAP LC-MS/MS currently in use. In addition, Lab resources have been redirected to other Units to meet the increased demands by the rise in violent crime. Current instrumentation age combined with the reallocation of resources to other units has impacted efficiency and backlog of the Toxicology Unit.

If this grant is awarded, the MNPD-CL Toxicology Unit will use the funding to purchase a SCIEX X500R QTOF system. By obtaining and implementing the SCIEX X500R QTOF system, the MNPD-CL Toxicology Unit would be able to enhance its testing capabilities by adding new compounds to the testing panel, increase sensitivity to detect lower levels of target compounds, and decrease the backlog and turnaround time.