Laboratory Testing

About

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Accreditations

  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
    CLIA Certificate of Compliance for High Complexity Clinical Laboratory
  • EPA Environmental Protection Agency
    Ambient Air and Drinking Water Testing
  • ISO17025 Forensic Sciences Laboratories
    Federal Bureau of Investigations DNA Analysis & CODIS
  • Rhode Island Department of Health - In-State Analytical Laboratory Certificate
  • Rhode Island Department of Health - In-State Clinical Laboratory License

Contact

Robin Fortunati

Controlled Substances Identification and Testing

Mission

To help enforce illegal drug laws in Rhode Island by examining evidence confiscated in drug-related crimes for the presence of controlled substances.

What we do

  • Perform laboratory identifications of chemical substances in evidence submitted by police departments.
  • Confirm illegal drug usage and drug trafficking.
  • Support federal, state, and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of narcotics crimes.
  • Identify trends in drug usage and emerging threats to public health.
  • Assist federal and state law enforcement agencies in the investigation of local clandestine drug laboratories.

Accomplishments

  • Since 2008, the Controlled Substances Laboratory has maintained national accreditation to the current ISO/IEC 17025 standards This laboratory was the first in New England to transition to the new and more rigorous ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.
  • In 2018, 8,444 individual drug items were tested in 2,693 cases. Of note is the 24% increase (from 2017) in fentanyl identifications, often in combination with heroin, a 73% increase in Methamphetamine identifications, and increasing numbers of counterfeit pill seizures. New drug identifications include: Valeryl Fentanyl, 3-Methoxy PCP, Flualprazolam, Alpha-PHPP.