Trace drug analysis
Clothing
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An individual who has contact with bulk quantities of drugs can spread drugs traces to themselves and the clothing they wear through direct and indirect contact. As clothing is a personal item, which may be regularly washed; testing clothing from an individual can establish a link between that person and drug related activities.
In contrast to other laboratories, MSA’s experts use analytical methods which allow clothing to be analysed without the use of solvents, complicated extraction procedures, or damage.
MSA’s approach to the analysis of clothing establishes whether there is a widespread distribution of drugs on the item. The more drugs that are found and the more widespread the distribution of drugs; the more likely the clothing has been worn by someone involved in drug related activities.
MSA’s experts are able to compare the results from a seized item of clothing, with results from clothing sourced from members of the public, charity shops and lost property facilities.
MSA is the only laboratory who attempts to put trace drugs evidence found on clothing into context; going beyond a simple reporting of detection to determining the significance of the finding of drugs.
Evidence of drugs on clothing has been provided by MSA in a number of successful cases throughout the UK.
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