GUARDS

GUARDS

GUARDS

DEA’s Newly Developed GUARDS Method

THE PROBLEM: Under current jurisdictional requirements, reporting of laboratory analysis findings varies throughout municipal, county, state, and federal laboratories. This disparity sometimes results in some laboratories not reporting lower-scheduled or non-controlled substances such as fentanyl or xylazine, when found in mixtures containing a higher scheduled drug, like heroin.

THE SOLUTION: The GUARDS method was developed and validated to address these and other US-wide reporting discrepancies by providing laboratories with a standardized GC-MS screening method that allows for consistent analysis and reporting of both commonly encountered drugs as well as emergent compounds.

With DEA (and other) laboratories using the GUARDS method, data could be assessed and compared nationwide allowing the early reporting of regionally detected NPS and the monitoring of trends.

DEA Seal - Color Logo

GUARDS Vision

Develop a standardized method to separate as many compounds as possible (including isomers) to share with the forensic seized-drug community and assist in standardized identification and reporting of compounds in seized drug samples.
Decorative icons regarding the GUARDS app

Why GUARDS?

The GUARDS method offers great selectivity for the vast majority of seized drugs routinely encountered by laboratories.

Mission First:

Our mission is to turn evidence into information. A streamlined and standardized collection of information means we can collect more information with fewer methods.
 

Collaboration:

Expand collaborative partnerships and lead the forensic community by providing a standardized analysis method for seized drugs and help standardize reporting. See Figure 1

Information Sharing:

Provide and get more information into the environment to contribute to the mission and assist the community.

Benefits:

Advanced analytical information – eliminates the need for multiple chromatographic methods by separating Fluoro- & Chloro-fentanyl positional isomers and derivatization of methamphetamine enantiomers. See Figure 2

Figure 1

Consistent results standardized method
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Figure_4_Chromatogram

Figure 2

Separation of fentanyl positional isomers
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Chromatogram 2

Development of the Guards Method

Involved over 90 iterations and three stationary phases while monitoring system suitability using multiple sets of forensically relevant, close-eluting compounds, including fentanyl analogues and positional isomers.