The eight laboratories that make up the Office of Information and Technology, Laboratories and Scientific Services are applied science at its best. The 185 scientists, chemists, biologists, textile analysts, physicists, and forensic scientists that work in CBP laboratories conduct general chemical and forensic analysis in support of CBP’s trade and anti-terrorism missions. They conduct laboratory analysis to determine the proper classification and appraisal of a commodity or product, if a product meets safety requirements, and whether a product is counterfeit. But the lab has become indispensable in the effort to detect and identify weapons of mass effect—nuclear, chemical, or biological. In addition, the laboratories support criminal cases developed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. “To work in a CBP lab you have to be a bit of a sleuth. The range of work is incredible—everything from finger print analysis, to radioactive isotope identification. The blend of science and law enforcement are complements,” says Ira Reese, Executive Director, CBP Laboratories and Scientific Services.

Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte

New Orleans Laboratory scientist performs X-ray fluoresence analysis to determine the type and composition of steel.

History
The laboratories started in the late 1800s in support of our many trade functions. Determining country of origin and commodity classification for the purpose of levying tariffs was the main reason for lab analysis. Initially, the labs dealt with two commodities: sugar and pharmaceuticals. Chemists did their analysis using not more than a couple of instruments. From these humble beginnings lab analysis has grown exponentially. Today, more than half of the tariff line items or more than 5,000 may be subject to lab analysis to verify if they are classified correctly and almost all analysis is done with some sort of instrumentation.

“Send it to trace”
When characters on the television program CSI say, “send it to trace,” it means that Nick Stokes, the character whose expertise is hair and fiber analysis, will be looking at some tidbit of evidence and amaze us with the information that can be gleaned from minutiae. Nick has his “real life” counterparts in the CBP labs. Trace analysis is most often conducted on hair, fibers, or soil. For example, determining appropriate classification of a shipment of bed linen that is marked as cotton may require trace analysis to determine if the sheets are 100 percent cotton or if they contain man-made fibers. An importer may say the shipment is cotton because the duty on man-made fibers is more than double that on cotton.

Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte

New York Laboratory scientist performs electrophoresis analysis on fish products to determine if the product is catfish and therefore, subject to large anti-dumping duties.

Analysis may also be done on soil attached to an agricultural commodity. Soil from any given region has physical and chemical properties that are unique. The physical make up of a soil sample can be analyzed such as the type of rock, minerals, vegetation, fossil, glass, paint, asphalt, etc. that are found in the sample. These analyses can be compared to a soil sample from a known location revealing whether the country of origin is as stated or not. In addition trace analysis is conducted for forensic reports in support of criminal cases.

Hello, I’m radioactive
One evolving function of the laboratory is supporting CBP’s anti-terrorism mission. CBP officers and Border Patrol agents have been assigned personal radiation detectors and ports are utilizing radiation portals to screen for nuclear devices or materials that can be used in their construction. “When any instrument gives a positive read that radiation is present, it is the job of the laboratory to identify what material is giving off the radiation,” explains Stephen Cassata, a chemist at the Springfield Laboratory. One instrument used to identify radioactive material is the Exploranium 135. “The Identifier” as it is called, takes a reading of energy coming from a radioactive source and compares the gamma ray radiation spectrum to an internal library of commonly known isotopes like Cesium 137, uranium, or plutonium. If no match is found, the spectrum is electronically sent to the National Targeting Center (NTC) where lab personnel can conduct a more detailed spectrum analysis to identify the radiation source.

Yet another machine, a portable Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) screening device, can conduct field tests of unknown materials and can identify biological, chemical, narcotic, and explosive agents. Laboratory hazardous material SWAT teams use this portable equipment to identify any suspicious material. CBP has the only “bubble suit,” team in the Department of Homeland Security capable of entering hazardous chemical environments or biologically contaminated areas.

Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte

Fast Response Team scientist responds to a radioactive/nuclear alarm using a radioisotope identification instrument (RIID) to determine the isotope and product that triggered the alarm.

A good eye
The forensic section provides forensic and crime scene investigation support for CBP, ICE, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Coast Guard, and for some state and local jurisdictions.

One of the principal services provided is evidence analysis in support of ICE cases. Lab forensic personnel are equipped to go to crime scenes and process the area for fingerprints and other evidence or agents collect the fingerprints and send them to the lab for fingerprint processing. Fingerprints are run through the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), a computer network that compares fingerprints to millions of prints contained in law enforcement databases. The computer provides potential matches and the percentage of a match based on certain values. However, to establish a positive match and to meet the standard for evidence in court proceedings, the human factor cannot be eliminated. A fingerprint expert must compare the actual inked card to the print. James McNutt, a Fingerprint Specialist and our resident authority on fingerprints explains, “Skin on a person’s fingers is flexible and there are too many nuances for an electronic match to be a positive identification.” McNutt says that training and skill are important factors for a fingerprint analyst but that there is no substitute for having “a good eye.”

DNA Analysis
Jenner Gutierrez, a research chemist at the CBP Springfield lab in Virginia, is pioneering non-human DNA analysis within DHS. Testing of non-human DNA evidence is usually aimed at differentiating among species or distinguishing individuals within a species. The analysis requires a very small sample of DNA that is run through a DNA sequencing machine. The sequence is compared to a control sample of known organisms obtained from GenBank, a global archival resource that stores DNA sequence data for nearly every organism that has ever been sequenced. The resulting analysis is used to determine country of origin in situations where in the past it could not be established definitively.

On the move
While CBP labs are multi-purpose and conduct the whole range of analytical work, some labs have a focus or specialty. For example, New Orleans is the lab that has expertise in fingerprint analysis; Savannah is the country of origin guru; trademark or intellectual property right infringement that’s San Francisco’s forte. In addition, the fleet of 14 mobile labs can bring lab expertise to any location within 48 hours and most within just 24 hours.

Science keeping America safe
“Working smarter” is a catch phrase that especially applies to CBP laboratories. The “Hulk “ may be able to move a heavy boulder but any scientist with rudimentary knowledge of leverage can do the same and more. CBP is protecting America and one layer of security is scientific knowledge. Whether it is identifying a “dirty bomb,” making sure that the pharmaceutical drugs you buy are safe, the video game you buy is authentic, or protecting our domestic trade, the CBP laboratories are working to keep America safe. LK