The Columbia Police Department Drug Lab is a specialized facility located in the Columbia Police Department Annex Building. This facility is dedicated to the analysis and identification of controlled substances. The laboratory currently consists of two fully trained chemists that operate according to departmental procedures and methods created from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Standard Operating Procedures. The laboratory uses state of the art instrumentation, including Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to analyze controlled substances.
The CPD Drug Lab uses various methods, including chemical spot tests, microscopic examinations, and confirmatory testing to identify controlled substances. Additionally, the Drug Lab has capabilities to quantify or determine the concentration of specific substances, such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), where there is a concentration threshold of 0.3% THC. This allows the Lab to differentiate Marijuana from Cannabis products based on the South Carolina State Statute.
Additionally, the CPD Drug Lab offers support for legal proceedings. The chemists within the laboratory provide crucial evidence and reports for court cases, ensuring accurate and timely analysis. On occasion, the chemists will also provide expert testimony of their analyses in court proceedings.
Lastly, in addition to the chemists that work within the drug laboratory, chain of command include the Lieutenant, Captain, and Major over the administration bureau who aid in direction of the laboratory under the command of the Chief and Deputy Chief of the Columbia Police Department. The laboratory is currently in the process of becoming an accredited laboratory through the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, with the goal of completion by November 2025. This accreditation will add further prestige to the results that the Drug Laboratory provides.