Blind Field Test Evaluation of Raman Spectroscopy as a Forensic Tool
- BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
- ASSOC WESTERN UNIVERSITY
Analytical instrumentation for Raman spectroscopy has advanced rapidly in recent years to the point where commercial field-portable instruments are available. Raman analysis with portable instrumentation is a new capability that can provide emergency response teams with on-site evaluation of hazardous materials. Before Raman analysis is accepted and implemented in the field, realistic studies applied to unknown samples need to be performed to define the reliability of this technique. Studies described herein provide a rigorous blind field test that utilizes 2 instruments and 2 operators to analyze a matrix that consists of 58 unknown samples. Samples were searched against a custom hazardous materials reference library[Hazardous Material Response Unit (HMRU) Spectral Library Database]. Experimental design included a number of intentionally difficult situations including binary solvent mixtures and a variety of compounds that yield medium quality spectra that were not contained in the HMRU library. Results showed that over 97% of the samples were correctly identified with no occurrences of false positive identifications (compounds that were not in the library were never identified as library constituents). Statistical analysis indicated equivalent performance for both the operators and instruments. These results indicate a high level of performance that should extrapolate to actual field situations. Implementation of Raman techniques to emergency field situations should proceed with a corresponding level of confidence.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 15001389
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-34375; 400480000; TRN: US200404%%65
- Journal Information:
- Forensic Science International, Vol. 125, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: 1 Dec 2001
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
FIELD TESTS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
PERFORMANCE
RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
RELIABILITY
SOLVENTS
CRIME DETECTION
PORTABLE RAMAN ANALYSIS
RELIABILITY OF RAMAN IDENTIFICATION
BLIND FIELD TEST
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
COUNTERTERRORISM