October 2013 - The Truth About Forensic Science

What does it mean to be NIST traceable?

On October 31, 2013, in Metrology, by Justin J. McShane

What does it mean to be NIST traceable? By Janine Arviszu, Certified Quality Auditor [Editor’s note: Too frequently in forensic science, laboratories or laboratory personnel claim that their process or even their whole laboratory is “NIST traceable” as if to act as a shield to ward off external validation. In this article expert witness Janine […]

How does a GC-MS machine know that there’s a drug in the blood or urine?

On October 29, 2013, in Chemistry, Equipment, GC-FID & GC/MS, by Justin J. McShane

How does a GC-MS machine know that there’s a drug in the blood? The analyst has to teach it. Just like you teach a kid his or her colors, you have to teach this machine what are the drugs it should be looking for. How were you taught what color is what? You probably don’t […]

Constructive Memory Process Eyewitness memory is not all it is made up to be

On October 29, 2013, in Eyewitness Identification, by Justin J. McShane

Eyewitness memory is not all it is made up to be. While not technically empirical forensic science in nature (other than cognitive psychology), I was moved after watching this TED talk by Elizabeth Loftus to share this talk with you. Memory, according to her, is like a Wikipedia page, not a recorder. It can be […]

Kudos to Texas State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy

On October 24, 2013, in Arson, Ethics: Scientist, by Justin J. McShane

From Grits for Breakfast (which is a wonderful blog): Kudos to Texas State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy for doing the right thing. Pecos DA challenges state fire marshal review of junk science in arson cases A West Texas DA has sought an Attorney General’s opinion seeking to stop the State Fire Marshal from reviewing […]

I know methamphetamine by looking at it: false arrest for drugs

On October 22, 2013, in Solid Drug Dose, by Justin J. McShane

Here is a curious article that shows shockingly what is typical in America. It is atypical that it got reported: ‘My client is not Walter White’: Man arrested for possessing crystal meth that turned out to be Jolly Rancher candy sues police A police officer who claimed to be an expert in detecting meth detained […]

GC-MS false positives

On October 17, 2013, in GC-FID & GC/MS, by Justin J. McShane

GC-MS false positives happen in drug testing As we blogged before, both in Stereoselectivity matters in methamphetamine: The Science of Breaking Bad cook makes both D and L forms of meth and in GC-MS is not perfect: The case study of methamphetamine there is a large issue in the ability of the Gas Chromatography with Mass […]

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