Notifications

Crime Laboratory Notifications

NOTICE: DPS Toxicology and Blood Alcohol Collection Kits REQUIREMENT effective September 15, 2024 (Customer Notification)

General

• Crime Lab Records (CLR) Connect Newsletter now available (Newsletter) 
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released an important notice regarding Crime Scene Response services. (Customer Notification) June 24, 2020
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released an important Evidence Receiving notice. (Customer Notification) April 30, 2020
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released an important Evidence Receiving notice. (Customer Notification) March 20, 2020

Seized Drugs

• Lithium battery removal required for ALL Seized Drugs evidence. (Customer Notification) January 31, 2024
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released an important notice regarding oils and vape cartridge testing services. (Customer Notification) September 1, 2022
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released an important notice regarding corrections to measurement uncertainty for seized drug weights. (Customer Notification) March 1, 2021
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released an important notice regarding Marihuana testing services. (Customer Notification) October 23, 2020
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released an important THC testing methodology update. (Customer Notification) February 18, 2020
• Laboratory testing of marijuana and THC is discussed as related to House Bill 1325 known as the "Hemp Bill" enacted on June 10, 2019.  Statement regarding DPS Crime Laboratory current capabilities for testing marijuana and THC (July 23, 2019)

Toxicology

• RESCINDED: Toxicology Blood Alcohol Collection Kit Shortage Effective November 2023 to March 2024. (Customer Notification) 
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released updated information regarding Toxicology (Alcohol/Volatiles) specimen testing kit requirements. (Customer Notification) December 17, 2021
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released updated information regarding Toxicology (Alcohol/Volatiles) testing service areas. (Customer Notification) December 28, 2020
• The DPS General Stores has released an important advisory update. (Customer Notification) March 20, 2020
• (RECALL NOTICE) – Vendor provided blood tubes that were added to DPS blood kits with an expiration date of July 31, 2020 may have been affected by this recall. Please ensure that you check kit prior to using it to collect evidence. DPS Notification and Guidance for Recalled Blood Tubes June 25, 2019
• The laboratory issued the following notification requiring the use of DPS Blood Kits for toxicology analysis, including blood alcohol for all driving cases effective February 1, 2019. This new notice includes guidance regarding hospital tube packaging if a DPS kit was not used. Updated Specimen Testing Kit Requirement for Driving Cases (04/26/19); Previous Correspondence Regarding the Specimen Testing Kit Requirement for Driving Cases December 17, 2018
• The laboratory issued the following notification regarding procedural changes in the Blood Alcohol Section: Revised Methods Used in Analysis of Alcohol in Biological Specimens November 07, 2016

DNA

• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released an important notice regarding Laboratory personnel disclosure. (Customer Notification) April 13, 2021
• Crime Laboratory has released an important notice, DPS self-Disclosure in State v. Criner. (Koehler Notification) October 02, 2019
• Statutory changes via HB1399, 86th Legislature, effective September 1, 2019, require that individuals arrested for certain felony charges submit a DNA sample to the Texas DPS CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) Program.
• Crime Laboratory has released an important notice, which will impact evidence submissions beginning April 15, 2019. (Customer Notification)
• DNA Case Acceptance Policy in Laboratory Customer Handbook (excerpt from Crime Laboratory Service Manual) (PDF) – Chapter 18
• DNA Interpretation and CPI Letter from Deputy Assistant Director Mills (09/10/2015)
• DNA Notification Letter NIST 1036 Database Change Related to Statistics from Assistant Division Director Mills (09/08/2017)
  • List of DNA cases that used NIST 1036 Database (2/24/2016 to 07/27/2017)

Firearms and Toolmarks

• NIBIN Customer Communication Letter from Laboratory Director Mills – Effective 1/1/2019 (12/18/2018)
• NIBIN Customer Communication Letter from Laboratory Director Mills – Effective 8/1/2018 (07/31/2018)

Trace Evidence

• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released a Frequently Asked Questions document regarding Gunshot Primer Residue Kit submissions (Customer Notification) May 31, 2024
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released an important notice regarding Gunshot Primer Residue Kit submissions. (Customer Notification) July 22, 2022
• The DPS Crime Laboratory has released an important notice regarding Laboratory personnel disclosure. (Customer Notification) April 22, 2021