What action should be taken with unknown substances in the field?

• A. Destroy on scene
• B. Send to FDLE for analysis
• C. Ignore if unidentified
• D. Post on social media

Answer: (B)

Handling unknown substances in the field focuses on safety and preserving evidence for accurate identification. The best action is to submit the material to the state forensic laboratory (FDLE) for analysis. This ensures a definitive identification and proper documentation, with the chain of custody intact from collection to testing, which is essential for any potential legal proceedings. Field tests can be unreliable, may alter or contaminate the sample, or miss impurities and adulterants, so trying to identify it on scene isn't dependable. Destroying the substance would erase evidence and pose safety risks, while ignoring it or posting about it on social media could jeopardize safety and the investigation. Secure the item in appropriate, tamper-evident packaging, document the evidence, and coordinate with the supervisor to arrange submission for laboratory analysis.