QSIRCHIE Command Every Scene? June 17, 2016 Mr. Gabrielson: In response to your May 6, 2016, letter, it appears that a considerable amount of your research is based on materials, documents and situations that are outdated or inaccurate. For example: 1. Sirchie reviews and updates its packaging, instructions, marketing, and sales materials as necessary to remain in compliance with the National Institute ofJustice standards (NIJ 0604.1). By way of example, NARK2007 materials include statements identifying the test as presumptive, the statement PERSONNEL the statement: TEST RESULTS MUST BE APPROVED BY AN APPROVED ANALYTICAL and a statement that reactions may occur with legal and illegal substances. The NARK20015 Methamphetamine/MDMA test reagent is not Simon's reagent, as you assumed. It is instead a proprietary formulation for identification of secondary amines present in structures such as methamphetamine and MDMA. Purple is a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine with this chemistry. This test has been validated by the Virginia Department of Forensic Science (VDFS) in line with Virginia's 6 VAC 40-30, the Regulations for the Approval of Field Tests for Detection of Drugs. In a March 5, 2015, letter to the Hillsborough County Sheriff?s Department (HCSO) Florida State Attorney Mark Ober noted that the HCSO had informed him that, after review, the HCSO determined that it was of any case where the HCSO improperly used or improperly interpreted this test kit in the field.? Furthermore, in that letter, Ober confirmed that the Sirchie kit in question functions as intended when used according to the manufacturer?s instructions. Sirchie validates the tests we develop and market. Additionally, most of the NARK line of products have been validated by the VDFS and published as part of their 6 VAC 40-30, the Regulations for the Approval of Field Tests for Detection of Drugs. For tests not validated by the VDFS, Sirchie performs in house validation and uses other third party validation services. In addition to the validation of NARK products, manufacturing lots are Quality Control checked in-house against the substance they are documented to identify. SIRCHIE provides training for NARK customers and has trained thousands of officers in the proper use of field tests. It is an important distinction that field-testing is one aspect/tool of an overall evaluation process law enforcement professionals use. Officer training, situational evaluation, behavior ofthe individual, appearance of the substance, texture of the substance, and so on, all come into play prior to taking the next step to run a presumptive test. A positive presumptive field test moves to the next recommended step, the confirmatory testing of the substance in an approved analytical laboratory. Therefore, the performance of a presumptive test cannot be evaluated in isolation and without considering the 100 Hunter Place Youngsville, NC 27596 USA (800) 356-7311 +1.919.554.2244 international@sirchie.com aforementioned overall process and steps. Presumptive field test are just that, presumptive, but serve as an important evaluation tool for law enforcement. These presumptive tests are a valuable field tool used bylaw enforcement in the United States on a regular basis. To our knowledge, presumptive field tests are not generally recognized as a final positive identification of a substance and confirmation of results in an approved analytical laboratory is clearly recommended. We hope that this information is helpful and that considerable further fact-checking will occur by you and the New York Times prior to publication of your story. President CEO 100 Hunter Place Youngsville, NC 27596 USA (800) 356-7311 +1 319.554.2244 sales@sirchie.com, international@sirchie.com