The TruNarc analyzer is a very expensive handheld device that utilizes Raman spectroscopy—a laser-based technology—to identify suspected controlled substances directly through plastic or glass packaging. While more advanced than chemical reagents, its results remain “presumptive” and require careful legal scrutiny. The results are usually but not always confirmed by Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Drug Lab with the Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) testing.

Understanding the TruNarc Scan Report

When an officer conducts a scan, the device generates a specialized report.

Key elements found in these reports include:

• The “Alarm” Result: A positive identification triggers an “Alarm” to law enforcement of possible danger for Fentanyl Compound or Methamphetamine.
• Scan Mode (Type-H): This specific mode is designed for the high-potency narcotics that may be dangerous in small quantities.
• Spectral Data: The device measures the “Wavenumber” (the way the laser light scatters) when it is aimed at what the This “chemical fingerprint” is what the device uses to match the substance against its internal library.
• Self-Check Calibration: To ensure accuracy, the device must pass a “Self-Check” before every actual test which why discovery required production of two “tests” for every drug test.
• Expensive: This manufacture website shows the current version of Trunarc is almost $40,000.

Limits

There is often a lack of specificity in some results (e.g., flagging the substance as either “Fentanyl Compound OR Methamphetamine.” It identifies a chemical category, but it does not provide the precise purity or exact compound identification that a stationary laboratory instrument can achieve.

While a TruNarc “Alarm” provides law enforcement with significant leverage during a roadside investigation, it is not a final forensic determination. These reports are often the catalyst for a case being sent to the MSHP Crime Lab for confirmation, and identifying discrepancies between this initial laser scan and final GC/MS results can be important.