Quality assurance testing of an explosive trace analysis laboratory
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Updated: Oct 9, 2026

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector
Published on: July 25, 2014
A Crowson1, R W Hiley, C C Todd
1Forensic Explosives Laboratory, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Fort Halstead, Sevenoaks, Kent, UK.
Abstract:
During 1989, the Forensic Explosives Laboratory (FEL) established a weekly quality assurance testing regime in its explosives trace analysis laboratory. The purpose of the regime is to prevent the accumulation of explosives traces within the laboratory at levels which could, if other precautions failed, result in the contamination of samples and controls. This paper describes the regime and summarizes the results from approximately eight years of tests. Lessons learned and improvements made over the period are also discussed.
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