Lalitpur, December 18:

National Forensic Science Laboratory (NAFOL) has started Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GCMS) service for the first time in the country. The service will help in the quantitative examination of the presence of any kind of non-medical drugs or poisonous chemicals in raw materials or extractions from biological samples.

Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Ram Chandra Paudel today made the announcement during the 12th anniversary of the NAFOL.

The commencement of the GCMS service will strengthen the clinical toxicology related testing services. “It is the most advanced technology to identify the exact chemical and amount of its presence in the samples,” said Bhinu Shova Tuladhar, executive director of the NAFOL.

It would improve the detection limits in complex samples, which would separate mixtures into individual components and identify their quantity. “It would help in the investigation of crimes related to poisoning,” said Tuladhar.

Addressing the programme, Minister Poudel stressed on the need of development of science and technology to develop the country. He said the NAFOL has initiated the scientific investigation of crimes, but it still lacks all the needed technologies. “The government will do its best for the physical and human resource development of the NAFOL.”

AIG of the Nepal Police Keshav Prasad Baral said organised crime rate is rising and this is

being countered by development of science and technology. “Forensic science is necessary

to identify and authenticate the evidence.”

NAFOL awarded three of its employees for excelling professionally and provided a letter of appreciation to Associated Enterprises, which helped initiate DNA profiling technology in the country.