For all those concerned,

The 3rd FIRMS ILE is now underway with samples having been sent out to the 
first 40 participants on the 16th August 2006. I am currently waiting on 4 
more hair samples before the final 4 packages will be sent out, and 
individual parties have been contacted in regards to this. 

Each package contains the 3 samples, a guide for analysis and results 
reporting sheets. The exercise has taken a long time to organise this year 
with the vast increase in outside interest but at least I hope now that 
all groups who intended to join the exercise are now participating. Note 
that each set of results reporting sheet include a section to sign up for 
an anticipated 4th ILE. It is important for all interested groups to sign 
up to reduce administration times in the future and also to have the 
correct number of samples prepared beforehand. ALso be aware that the 
reporting sheets require the entry of raw IRMS data and normalised data 
for all laboratories who are familiar with this. This will also allow for 
a study of the effect and importance of normalisation to be carried out. 
Hopefully this will raise further awareness about normalising IRMS data 
for future, universal, collaboration of isotopic ratios.

For the present ILE, once all results have been returned and analysed they 
will be presented on the FIRMS website under the following Newsletter. For 
all those unfamiliar with this site, the address is http://www.forensic-
isotopes.rdg.ac.uk/. Please look on the website for updates of upcoming 
events in the future, including the November 2007 FIRMS Network Conference 
(co-ordinated throught ISO-Trace New Zealand). At present there have been 
2 FIRMS Network conferences and information on these can also be found on 
the website, which includes the current FIRMS technical strategy. 

If anybody would like to join the FIRMS mailing lists for updates on the 
FIRMS Network please email the administrator at [log in to unmask]


Regards

James Warwick Broughton
Forensic Researcher/ FIRMS Administrator
DSTL Fort Halstead