ODV's #923 Methamphetamine Test receives Prima Facie Status in some areas. Sales for this test have now exceeded 20,000 boxes - call us for details about this new test.
The question has been raised by a number of jurisdictions as to whether or not it is necessary to have officers re-certified in the use of narcotic field tests. With the ever increasing number of new substances and the improvement and development of new field tests, the answer is definitely YES!
The problem associated with re-certification is the cost of gathering those officers for another lengthy training. The concern is both lost man hours in patrol or investigation and the potential overtime for officers to come in during off-duty hours.
ODV has established a protocol to eliminate the unnecessary costs associated with recertification. This protocol includes:
The information itemized above is contained in an abbreviated lesson plan. This plan is designed for each officer to take home and review at his leisure over a period specified by the individual department. Upon completion of this review, the officer would sign and date the material stating he or she has read and fully understands the material. A short quiz would then be given. All personnel successfully completing this program will then be issued a Certificate of Re-Certification.
This new program will serve a number of great benefits which include:
To receive additional information on the Re-certification program or to make an inquiry to schedule this program for your department, please call us directly at 1-800-852-0300.
We are often asked, "What does ODV stand for?" Back in 1969 Dr. Robert Carroll, a research chemist, was attempting to make artificial whiskey using various flavors and fragrances in ethanol. He named the company after the French phrase for alcohol or "water of life." In French it is Eau de Vie stylized to O D V. Later in 1969 when U. S. Customs asked him to develop a better field test kit, he did it under the ODV company name. And so it was that ODV became the first company to market field test kits with crushable glass ampoules.
NarcoPouch and Narcotest are on GSA contract If your department qualifies, please give us a call to get a copy today.
Ephedrine is a common precursor to Methamphetamine and can be tested in #927 or #7627.
The largest manufacturer of Ephedrine is Knoll Pharmaceuticals, a division of BASF. Ephedrine occurs naturally in some plants. In some areas, cookers are extracting ephedrine from plants and converting it to Meth.
Uses for the Marquis Reagent
Over the years the Marquis Reagent (902/7602) has been asked to perform a number of varying tasks. These include identifying Heroin, Morphine, Codeine, Amphetamines and Methamphetamine. However, the truth about the Marquis Reagent is that it should be established as a General Screening test only.
Heroin - When this substance is introduced into the Marquis, you should see an immediate orange slowly developing into a purple color. However, Ecstasy will react with a Marquis by going an almost black color. To the untrained eye, or to an officer who has seen very little heroin, they incorrectly interpret this result as Heroin. To safeguard from such a mistake, always remember the Marquis is designed as a general screening test and should lead you to confirm your suspicions with a second specific test, Mecke's Reagent (924/7624). Heroin will turn the first ampoule of Mecke's clear to tan. The second ampoule will slowly develop into a definite green. If Ecstasy were present after breakage of the first ampoule, you will see an immediate purple color.
Amphetamines/Methamphetamine It has long been the myth that you can distinguish the difference between Amphetamines and Methamphetamine simply by the time frame it takes to turn orange to brown versus the other. This is totally inaccurate. It is important to remember that in order to have Amphetamines or Methamphetamine, you must see a color change of orange to brown with the Marquis Reagent within 12 seconds. Since heat will accelerate the reaction and cold will retard it, you can eliminate the thought of differentiating by time alone.
The only accurate way to distinquish the two in a field test is the classic Sodium Nitroprusside test where Meth turns dark blue in the ODV #923 (pouch) or #7623 (tube). If instead of an immediate dark blue after breaking the final ampoule, you see only a pink slowly developing into a reddish brown the compound is amphetamine. The #23 test is designed to be used in conjunction with the Marquis, following the protocol of orange to brown reaction within 12 seconds.
Always remember when looking for a specific substance like Heroin, use a specific field test like Mecke's. When looking for Cocaine and Crack, always use the specific Cocaine Salts and Base test. When looking for Amphetamines and Methamphetamine, use the combination of Marquis and the Meth Test.
In today's society, we are all very conscious of Officer safety and the proper precautions when performing any number of functions. However, when it comes to narcotics field testing, we are far less aware and willing to take these same precautions.
ODV strongly advises you to use disposable gloves at all times when you are testing controlled substances. For those uniformed Officers or those testing in a controlled environment like the Police Department, disposable gloves are always available. For those officers in plain clothes and testing either in their cars or at buys, disposable gloves may not be possible.
If gloves are not available, take every precaution not to physically touch the substance. Use some noncontaminated loading device to break down the substance and enter it into the test.
Marihuana is often looked upon as the most innocent of all controlled substances. More and more, we are seeing people lace Marihuana with liquid PCP. If you were to handle Marihuana laced in this manner, you would have PCP on your fingers. This can be absorbed into your system either through small cuts or nicks on your fingers or cheeks after shaving or through wiping the corners of your mouth and later licking your lips.
Please, for your protection and safety, start using disposable gloves at all times. Upon completing the testing procedure, become accustomed to washing your hands thoroughly. Your safety should be uppermost in all of your minds. START USING GLOVES!
Breaking the Ampoules
When these glass ampoules are initially loaded, they start as a clear glass tube. The bottom end of the tube is cut off and heat sealed. Actually, the glass is melted in a gas flame forming a vial. At our factory, the reagent or solvent of the field test is then injected into the vial which is passed through a gas flame. The glass melts in on itself forming a seal and a partial vacuum over the reagent. We refer to this as hermetically sealed. These ampoules are then carefully placed within the protective harness of the pouch or glued into the Narcotest tubes. This keeps them in the correct sequence and protects your fingers when breaking the glass.
To ensure your safety, get in the habit of always breaking the ampoules between the thumb and forefinger at the middle of the plastic protective harness in the pouch. Break at the line of the liquid level in tubes. DO NOT CONTINUE to crush the glass after initial breakage. ALL YOU NEED to do is introduce the solvent or reagent to the substance itself, then agitate the test. If you were to crush the glass, you run the distinct possibility of forcing the thicker glass contained at the top and bottom of the ampoule through the package and into your finger.
For your safety, using thumb and forefinger simply pop the middle of the ampoule until broken, agitate the test, and watch for the required color results.
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Do you have an article of interest or a question for us? Give us a call at 1-800-852-0300 and we will be happy to include it next time.
ODV, Inc. - 13386 International Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 U.S.A.
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