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Forensic Scientist Allison Flattum demonstrates the bullet recovery tank at the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. The tank is filled with water which slows the bullet and preserves the signature of the gun barrel on the bullet. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Dani Mata, Senior Forensic Scientist, checks on blood samples being tested by a new liquid chromatograph in the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. The machine went online August 1st and can identify 300 different drugs in suspects’ blood samples. If an officer arrests someone for DUI and suspects there are drugs involved he can request a blood sample. Forty to 50% of samples collected contain drugs. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Forensic Scientist Thomas Matsudaira compares bullet casings for a possible matches at the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Blood samples are tested for alcohol by a gas chromatograph in the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Bruce Houlihan, director of the OC Crime Lab, talks about the early days of the lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Blood is tested for alcohol by a gas chromatograph in the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Forensic Scientist Jennifer Jarrett prepares samples to be tested in the DNA lab at the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Blood is tested for alcohol by a gas chromatograph in the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. The lab tests 8,000 to 10,000 samples a year. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Despite advancements in technology finger prints are still taken the old fashioned way with a black powder at the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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A Liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer is used in the OC Crime Lab to identify drugs in suspects’ blood samples in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. If an officer arrests someone for DUI and suspects there are drugs involved he can request a blood sample. Forty to 50% of samples collected contain drugs. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Forensic Scientist Allison Flattum demonstrates the bullet recovery tank at the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. The tank is filled with water which slows the bullet and preserves the signature of the gun barrel on the bullet. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Dani Mata, Senior Forensic Scientist, holds a tray of 110 blood samples to be tested by a new liquid chromatograph in the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. The machine went online August 1st and can identify 300 different drugs in suspects’ blood samples. If an officer arrests someone for DUI and suspects there are drugs involved he can request a blood sample. Forty to 50% of samples collected contain drugs. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Forensic Scientist Jennifer Jarrett prepares samples to be tested in the DNA lab at the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, September 18, 2018. September 17-21 is National Forensic Science Week. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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It recently became tougher to get away with impaired driving, thanks to new equipment at the OC Crime Lab in Santa Ana.
The lab, which serves all law enforcement agencies in Orange County, has added a liquid chromatograph that can identify 300 different drugs, both illegal and prescription. Older technology allowed for the identification of 50 substances.
The lab is also responsible for processing evidence and forensics from crime scenes, analyzing fingerprints, and matching bullets to the guns from which they were fired. This week is the fifth annual National Forensic Science Week, recognizing the role of forensic science in solving crimes.