ASTM_E_2548_-_11e1.pdf

Designation:E2548111Standard Guide forSampling Seized Drugs for Qualitative and QuantitativeAnalysis1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2548;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1NOTEEditorial corrections were made to Sections 1 and 8 in December 2011.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers minimum considerations for samplingof seized drugs for qualitative and quantitative analysis.1.2 This guide cannot replace knowledge,skill,or abilityacquired through appropriate education,training,and experi-ence and should be used in conjunction with sound profes-sional judgment.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of MaterialsE122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,WithSpecified Precision,the Average for a Characteristic of aLot or ProcessE141 Practice for Acceptance of Evidence Based on theResults of Probability SamplingE1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic ScienceE2329 Practice for Identification of Seized DrugsE2334 Practice for Setting an Upper Confidence Bound Fora Fraction or Number of Non-Conforming items,or a Rateof Occurrence for Non-conformities,Using AttributeData,When There is a Zero Response in the Sample2.2 ISO Standards:3ISO 3534-1 Statistics Vocabulary and Symbols Part 1:Probability and General Statistical TermsISO 3534-2 Statistics Vocabulary and Symbols Part 2:Statistical Quality Control3.Significance and Use3.1 This guide provides information for the sampling ofseized-drug submissions.3.2 The principal purpose of sampling in the context of thisguide is to answer relevant questions about a population byexamination of a portion of the population.For example:What is the net weight of the population?What portion of the units of a population can be said to contain agiven drug at a given level of confidence?3.3 By developing a sampling strategy and implementingappropriate sampling schemes,as illustrated in Fig.1,alaboratory will minimize the total number of required analyti-cal determinations,while ensuring that all relevant legal andscientific requirements are met.4.Sampling Strategy4.1 A sampling strategy is highly dependent on the purposeof the investigation,the original question,and the ultimate useof the results.Laws and legal practices form the foundation ofmost strategies and shall be taken into account when designinga sampling scheme.Therefore,specific sampling strategies arenot defined in this guide.4.2 The laboratory has the responsibility to develop its ownstrategies consistent with these recommendations.It is recom-mended that the following key points be addressed:4.2.1 Sampling may be statistical or non-statistical.NOTE1For the purpose of this guide,the use of the term statistical ismeant to include the notion of an approach that is probability-based.4.2.1.1 In many cases,a non-statistical approach may suf-fice.The sampling plan shall provide an adequate basis foranswering questions of applicable law.For example,Is there a drug present in the population?Are statutory enhancement levels satisfied by the analysis of aspecified number of units?4.2.1.2 If an inference about the whole population is to bedrawn from a sample,then the plan shall be statistically basedand limits of the inference shall be documented.4.2.2 Statistically selected units shall be analyzed to meetPractice E2329 if statistical inferences are to be made about thewhole population.1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on ForensicSciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.Current edition approved Sept.1,2011.Published October 2011.Originallyapproved in 2007.Last previous version approved in 2007 as E2548 07.DOI:10.1520/E2548-11E01.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from International Organization for Standardization(ISO),1 rue deVaremb,Case postale 56,CH-1211,Geneva 20,Switzerland,http:/www.iso.ch.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 5.Sampling Scheme5.1 The sampling scheme is an overall approach that in-cludes population determination,selection of the sampling planand procedure and,when appropriate,sample reduction prior toanalysis(Fig.2).5.2 Population Determination:5.2.1 The population determination shall take into accountall typical forms and quantities in which exhibits may appear.5.2.2 A population can consist of a single unit or multipleunits.FIG.1 Relationship of Various Levels Required in SamplingFIG.2 Example of a Sampling SchemeA Decision FlowchartE2548 1112 5.2.3