Integrate scientific rigor with operational applicability in the canine drug detection field by scientifically assessing a forthcoming consensus developed canine drug detection standard (ASB…

Award Details: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards program (CFDA 11.609), $249,986 obligated, awarded October 1, 2025, with completion by December 31, 2026. Performance location: Miami, Florida.

Scope of Work: Florida International University, in collaboration with Texas Tech University as a sub-awardee, will conduct a three-phase research initiative to evaluate and refine the forthcoming ASB 086-2X Standard for Canine Detection of Narcotics. Phase 1 involves surveying the canine detection community to assess knowledge and implementation of existing standards. Phase 2 comprises two field assessments evaluating approximately 40 canine drug detection teams across Florida and Texas against standardized certification assessments in comparison to current operational protocols and fentanyl detection capabilities. Phase 3 consists of statistical analysis of collected data to determine standard adoption rates, team performance metrics, and comparative effectiveness. The research will produce a scientifically validated foundation for the ASB 086-2X standard and provide recommendations for addressing identified gaps, delivering expanded evidence-based guidance to the canine detection research community and operational stakeholders.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to integrate scientific rigor with operational applicability in the canine drug detection field by scientifically assessing a forthcoming consensus developed canine drug detection standard (ASB standard 086-2X canine detection of narcotics) and refining the standard based on data collected to make IT more efficacious.

Activities

The researchers are designing a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the forthcoming ASB 086-2X standard for the canine detection of narcotics. This study will be performed in three distinct steps.

Expected outcomes

The observations made and data collected during this study will be used to evaluate and improve the forthcoming ASB 086-2X standard for canine detection of narcotics with the goal of placing IT on a stronger scientific foundation. The methodical nature of this study will enable in-depth testing of this standard for the purpose of finding gaps and providing scientifically sound recommendations for how any existing gaps can be filled.specific objectives:step 1: the research team will conduct a survey of the relevant canine detection community to evaluate the level of knowledge and extent of implementation of canine detection standards.step 2: the research team will execute two carefully designed field assessments to evaluate the performance of approximately 40 canine drug detection teams against standardized certification assessments in comparison to currently employed operational and fentanyl detection assessments.step 3: the data from the survey and the field assessments will be statistically analyzed to assess how common the use of existing standards is throughout the field, how well the canine teams performed in general, and how well they performed against the standard in comparison to the other operational assessments.

Intended beneficiaries

The research community in the canine detection discipline will have an additional body of data available to advance canine detection in general and refine the development of canine detection standards specifically.as the detection of illicit substances is of great interest to the general public, this research will also help to create a safer environment as training would be improved and canine detection teams would become more efficient and reliable allowing them to detect and remove these items from circulation in a more effective manner.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient plans to subaward funds to include additional canine detection expertise from both the scientific (DR. Paola tiedemann-texas tech university) and operational (paul bunker-chiron K9, LLC) perspectives as well as human factors expertise (DR. Adele quigley-mcbride-simon fraser university).