Transcript TBI VIOLENT CRIME RESPONSE TEAM PROGRAM

TBI Toxicology Overview
 Steps
taken and progress achieved in
reducing the turnaround time for the
TBI Toxicology Unit
Toxicology Overview
 Past
and Present Turnaround Times in
Toxicology
 What Caused the Increase
 Steps we have Taken to Reduce Times
 Where we are Currently
Root Cause:
 Implied
Consent Law Change
Mandatory Blood Draw
 Injury MVA
 Previous DUI
 Child in Vehicle
 Went into Effect 1-1-12
Law Change Resulted in:
 48%
Increase in Toxicology Submissions
Statewide from 2011-2012
Blood Alcohols Submitted Statewide
25000
23000
21000
19000
17000
15000
13000
11000
9000
7000
5000
Blood Alcohol
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Blood Alcohols Completed Statewide
23000
21000
19000
17000
15000
Blood Alcohol
13000
11000
9000
7000
5000
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Blood Alcohols
 Each
Sample Analyzed Twice
Forward Order
 Reverse Order
 Results Must Agree within 5%
 Technical Review & Administrative Review
 Time required for typical analysis – 1.5 week

Blood Alcohols Advance to Drug
Testing when:
 DUI
Case where Blood Alcohol Concentration is
below .08 gm%
 MVA or Vehicular Homicide
 Medical Examiner Case
Percentage of Blood Alcohols that
Advance to Drug Testing:
– 36%
 Knoxville – 49%
 Memphis – 33%
 Nashville
Drug Screens Completed Statewide
8500
8000
7500
7000
Toxicology
6500
6000
5500
5000
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Drug Screen
Much more Labor Intensive than BA
 Immunoassay Screen
 Extractions (Basic, WAN, Benzodiazepines, THC, etc.)
 Analysis
 Quantitations
 Technical Review & Administrative Review
 Time required for typical analysis – 2.5 week
 70 DS per month vs 360 BA per month

Measures Taken:
 Overtime
 Added
Instrumentation
 Added Positions
 Outsourced Drug Screens
 Breath
Toxicology Manpower:
 Added
4 Toxicology Positions in 2013
 Added 1 Toxicology Position in 2014
 Expansion, Hiring Process, Background
 1.5 years required to fully train each
 23 Toxicology Positions Statewide
 8 are in various stages of Training
Outsourcing Drug Screens:
 Competitive
Bid Process
 Began June 2014
 500 Drug Screens per Month
 Approximately 3500 outsourced to date
 (Contract specifies Criminal Testimony at no
Charge)
Outsourcing Drug Screens:
 TBI
still responsible for:
 Select, Package and Transfer Evidence
 Technical Review
 Administrative Review
 Report
 For every case outsourced, still have about
half of the actual labor involved
Reported Turnaround Times:
 Number
of weeks from date Submitted to Lab
until Report
 Time Reported represents the oldest case, not
the average time
Jan-15
Sep-14
May-14
Jan-14
Sep-13
May-13
Jan-13
Sep-12
May-12
Jan-12
Sep-11
May-11
Jan-11
WEEKS
Blood Alcohol Turnaround Times
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Nashville
Memphis
Knoxville
Jan-15
Sep-14
May-14
Jan-14
Sep-13
May-13
Jan-13
Sep-12
May-12
Jan-12
Sep-11
May-11
Jan-11
# of Cases
Blood Alcohol Case Inventory
2500
2000
1500
Nashville
1000
Memphis
500
Knoxville
0
Jan-15
Sep-14
May-14
Jan-14
Sep-13
May-13
Jan-13
Sep-12
May-12
Jan-12
Sep-11
May-11
Jan-11
WEEKS
Tox Turnaround Times
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Nashville
Memphis
Knoxville
Jan-15
Sep-14
May-14
Jan-14
Sep-13
May-13
Jan-13
Sep-12
May-12
Jan-12
Sep-11
May-11
Jan-11
# of Cases
Tox Case Inventory
3000
2500
2000
1500
Nashville
1000
Memphis
500
Knoxville
0