Quality Assurance in Breath Alcohol Testing
The United States Capitol Police (USPC) utilizes the Drager Alcotest 9510 breathalyzer to conduct its breath test program. Instruments used by law enforcement agencies in the District of Columbia must meet the certification requirements as mandated by the Breath Test Admissibility in Criminal Proceedings Amendment Act of 2012. In response to a need expressed by the USPC, PSA’s Office of Forensic Toxicology Services (OFTS) has agreed to provide annual quality assurance reviews of the USCP’s Drager breath alcohol instrument in support of USCP breath alcohol cases prosecuted in the District of Columbia by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). The OFTS operates a laboratory certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/CLIA and is staffed by professionals with credentials in forensic toxicology, forensic science, medical technology, chemistry and biology. This partnership is reflected in a Memorandum of Understanding among PSA, USPC and OAG.
