Wade Setter, the superintendent of the lab, outlined the changes that took effect today.
The lab will no longer perform testing on suspected drug paraphernalia, like pipes used to smoke drugs, except in extenuating circumstances approved by lab management. The lab will no longer for residue or trace amounts (less than .01 grams) of suspected controlled substances. The lab will no longer test “marked pharmaceutical tablets” unless the markings indicate a controlled substance and a trial date has been set in the case.
The lab will continue to accept marijuana cases where there is a measurable amount of plant material and a court date has been set.
Setter said the changes were temporary and the BCA would continue to pursue resources to help in drug testing.
The BCA took on the case load from the St. Paul Police Department lab when testing there was suspended last summer. That additional workload has put a strain on the system.
Setter said that in January 2012 there were 250 cases in the lab with 21 days needed to process the evidence. As of Friday, the lab had 1,400 cases waiting for testing with an estimated four month turnaround time. If the backlog was not addressed, that turnaround time could grow to six months, Setter said.
More information on the changes is available at the BCA’s website.
Source: http://minnlawyer.com/minnlawyerblog/2013/03/18/bca-lab-cuts-back-on-testing-today/
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