The Saint Lucia Forensic Science Laboratory recently completed a series of activities aimed at setting up the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) instrument at the laboratory.

The staff of the Chemistry Unit also received training on the instrument so as to implement it into casework after the completion of validation studies.

The activities were undertaken by Mr. Mark Dixon, a drug chemist with over 17 years working in accredited laboratories. Mr Dixon is a certified Drug Analysis Fellow through the America Board of Criminalistics, and has also served as an ISO 17025 Assessor for other labs at city, county, state and national levels in the United States of America and in other countries including Kosovo.

Mr. Dixon also had the opportunity to understand and experience the Saint Lucia Forensic Science Laboratory operations, and to meet key stakeholders such as the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Saint Lucia Forensic Science Laboratory expects to be able to expand its testing capabilities within the unit, once it is fully online. The GC-MS will be an integral part of improving efficiency.