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Forensic Science

Portable chemical analysis for drug investigations promises more reliable and just results

Scientists aim to combat false positives and user error by making spectrometers smaller and smarter—and educating law enforcement on proper technique

by Carolyn Wilke, special to C&EN
April 21, 2023 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 101, Issue 13
An illustration featuring a spectrometer with its scanner set on a bag of substances. The background features several geometric shapes and math symbols. The words "methamphetamine" and "Cocaine/Cocaine base" are visible in behind the spectrometer.

Credit: Nazario Graziano/Jacksonville State University | In the field, drug enforcement officers can simply point handheld devices such as the TruNarc infrared analyzer at a sample, and the device's display gives a readout of what known drugs it detects.

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