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Drug Analysis Service

Learn about the Drug Analysis Service and what we offer. Also, law enforcement agencies can find contact information for our 3 laboratories across Canada.

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About the Drug Analysis Service

The Drug Analysis Service (DAS) provides scientific and technical services to help Canadian law enforcement agencies in their activities involving illegal drugs. For cannabis-related activities, please refer to the Cannabis Laboratory page.

Our services include:

  • Identifying: We identify controlled drugs and substances listed in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Each year we receive over 120,000 drug samples from law enforcement agencies. These samples are submitted for analysis without information about where they came from or the cases they were involved in.
  • Measuring: We find out how much of a drug is present in a sample. For example, in a powder sample, an analysis would let us see how much of the powder is cocaine (purity).
  • Reporting: We provide a Certificate of Analyst to report on results for every drug sample submitted. These can be used by police in investigations and as evidence in Canadian courts. We also share statistics and trends based on the drug samples submitted for analysis.
  • Dismantling illegal laboratories: We help police forces safely dismantle illegal drug laboratories.
  • Advising and training: We teach police forces how to recognize drugs and other substances found during their investigations or at illegal laboratories. We also provide information and training on:
    • drug trends and analysis
    • safely dismantling an illegal laboratory
    • sampling evidence for investigations or court purposes

We operate laboratories in:

We are committed to the United Nations Drug Control Treaties. We work with partners around the world to develop proper, scientific drug analysis procedures that other countries may use.

The Drug Analysis Service is committed to maintaining confidentiality; all information received and results obtained are used solely for the purposes required to fulfill service obligations and will not be divulged or used for any other purpose.

For law enforcement agencies

Services

Forensic analysis services

We provide forensic analysis services to support law enforcement agencies in their investigations involving illegal drugs.

Submitted exhibits are analyzed on a "first in, first out" basis. We provide a Certificate of Analyst to the submitting officer within 45 calendar days. Sometimes, more time may be needed if:

  • the request requires an unusually complicated analysis
  • there is a high volume of complex requests in progress

We can provide rush analysis results in two business days, depending on:

  • the timeline negotiated with the police authority
  • the number of exhibits submitted and their complexity

Support and training services

We provide support and training services to law enforcement agencies involved in the control of illegal drugs, controlled substances and precursor chemicals. These services include providing:

  • assistance with the safe dismantling of suspected clandestine drug laboratories
  • advice and training on:
    • sampling illicit drugs seized
    • health and safety issues related to shutting down clandestine drug laboratories

Guidance documents

The following guidance documents for law enforcement agencies are only available upon request. Contact your nearest DAS laboratory to receive a copy.

Drug Analysis Service Client Manual

Our client manual provides guidelines for preparing and submitting drug exhibits. It includes DAS contact information, operating hours and our service standards. It also includes information on:

  • when to submit exhibits
  • how to prepare exhibits for submission
  • how to submit exhibits

The current version of the client manual was released in April 2023.

Support during the Investigation and Dismantling of Clandestine Synthetic Drug Laboratories

Our support document outlines:

  • the roles and responsibilities of the DAS
  • the services we offer for safely dismantling a clandestine drug laboratory
  • the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies
  • our contact information

Drug Analysis Service Training Manual

Our training manual describes the courses we offer to law enforcement agencies and how to request training. Based on their needs, we can teach law enforcement agencies how to:

  • identify illegal drugs and other substances
  • safely collect, handle, prepare and submit exhibits to the laboratory
  • safely dismantle a clandestine drug laboratory, including:
    • handling chemical and physical hazards
    • proper disposal of waste and chemicals

This training provides an opportunity for the clients to:

  • increase their knowledge about statistics and illicit drugs trends in Canada
  • learn about synthesis routes being used for producing illicit drugs
  • obtain an overview of clandestine drug laboratory activities in Canada

Drug Analysis Service Reports

Contact us

Police forces from across the country should contact their closest Drug Analysis Service laboratory.

Complaints on DAS' services can be directed to the laboratories using the contact information listed below. All complaints will be considered and the complainant will be informed of the conclusion of the complaint. The personal information of the complainant and any people who are the subject of a complaint will be kept confidential and only used for the purposes of addressing the complaint and any follow-up actions.

Ontario

Toronto laboratory

Health Canada
Drug Analysis Service
2301 Midland Ave
Toronto, Ontario M1P 4R7
Phone: 416-973-1453
Email: das.manager.toronto@hc-sc.gc.ca

Exhibit labels

Health Canada exhibit labels may be obtained from the following sources:

Health Canada

Drug Analysis Service
2301 Midland Ave
Toronto, Ontario
M1P 4R7

Ontario Provincial Police

Supply Section
777 Memorial Ave.
Orillia, Ontario
L3V 7V3

Phone: 705-329-6922

RCMP

130 Dufferin Ave.
London, Ontario
N6A 5R2

Phone: 519-640-7355

Toronto Police Service

Property and Evidence Management Unit
330 Progress Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M1P 2Z4

Phone:416-808-3770

Quebec and the Atlantic provinces

Montreal laboratory

Health Canada
Drug Analysis Service
1001 rue St-Laurent Ouest
Longueuil, Quebec
J4K 1C7

Phone: 450-928-4046
Email: sad.longueuil@hc-sc.gc.ca

Exhibit labels

Health Canada exhibit labels may be obtained from:

Health Canada

Drug Analysis Service
1001 rue St-Laurent Ouest
Longueuil, Quebec
J4K 1C7

Western and Northern provinces and territories

Vancouver laboratory

Health Canada
Drug Analysis Service
3155 Willingdon Green
Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 4P2

Phone: 604-666-3121
Email: bcdasexhibitcontrol@hc-sc.gc.ca

Exhibit labels

Health Canada exhibit labels may be obtained from:

Health Canada

Drug Analysis Service
3155 Willingdon Green
Burnaby, British Columbia
V5G 4P2

Alberta

RCMP Police "K" Division
11140-109 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, T2G 2T4

Phone: 780-412-5365

British Columbia

E Division RCMP Stores
1151-4501 Caen Avenue
Chilliwack, British Columbia
V2R 0N3

Tel: 604-703-2509

Manitoba

RCMP, D&V Division Stores
1091 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3G 0S6

Tel: 431-849-8050

Saskatchewan

RCMP, F Division
P.O Box 6500
5600-11th Avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 3J7

Tel: 639-625-3411

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