ISSN: 0022-1198
Published Online: 25 May 2005
Page Count: 6

Maintenance of the ENFSI Proficiency Test Program on Identification of GSR by SEM/EDX (GSR2003)
Andrasko, J
National Laboratory of Forensic Science, SKL,

Biegstraaten, J
Netherlands Forensic Institute, NFI,

Gunaratnam, L
National Bureau of Investigation, NBI,

Niewoehner, L
Bundeskriminalamt, BKA, Forensic Science Institute,

Steffen, S
Tu Freiberg, Institute of Analytical Chemistry,

Uhlig, S
QuoData GmbH,

(Received 21 October 2004; accepted 12 March 2005)

Abstract

Within the framework of the ENFSI Expert Working Group “Firearms,” every second year, a proficiency test on the detection and identification of GSR by SEM/EDX is carried out. This proficiency test is a development and extension of the previous proficiency test GSR2001. The test material was again designed by the organization panel and manufactured by an external company for SEM accessories. This time the participating laboratories were requested to determine the total number of PbSbBa containing particles on a test sample following their own laboratory specific methods of automated GSR particle search and detection by SEM/EDX. One synthetic particle sample (SPS) with artificial GSR particles was dispatched to all participants. This paper summarizes the results of the study and assesses the overall performance of the participating laboratories. Furthermore an extended statistical evaluation and a comparison with previous studies was carried out.

Keywords:
forensic science, gunshot residues, GSR, firearms, scanning electron microscopy, SEM/EDX, proficiency testing, European Network of Forensic Science Institutes, ENFSI, ISO 5725, statistical evaluation, z-scores

Paper ID: JFS2004454
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2004454
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