One of the most frequent questions that I get from other lawyers is something like this: Can synthetic marijuana be tested for by GC-FID or GC-MS? Can marijuana be tested for by GC-FID or GC-MS? Can methamphetamine be tested for by GC-FID or GC-MS? The truthful answer is, it depends. Let’s take for example the […]
You have cocaine on you guaranteed! Cocaine on Currency
You’ve got cocaine on you! YOU MUST BE A DRUG DEALER BECAUSE YOUR MONEY SHOWS COCAINE! This fun introduction is a means of relating to you the issues of the Locard Exchange Principle (https://www.thetruthaboutforensicscience.com/the-locard-exchange-principle-in-forensic-science-the-real-itouch/) as applied to cocaine and currency. It is the consensus of these works that upwards of 90-97% of paper currency in […]
Passive marijuana smoke leads to positive test that is misinterpreted as a probation/parole violation or being DUID
It is one thing to have a result. It is a whole other thing to know what to do with it. This blog post will consider the case of positive test results and the limits of interpreting the significance of those results in various contexts. It is estimated that as of 2009, one out of […]
Today’s accepted science is subject to review and is evolutionary
Science is a wonderful thing. It is perhaps the greatest organized device known for discovering the truth. However, it is not infallible. Today’s scientific axiom is tomorrow’s discredited idea. That is why I suggest that we as lawyers dealing with forensic science related aspects are living in a great time of fundamental change. It is […]
A screening test for possible drug presence is not a confirmation test
Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) (ELIA) is often a colormetric test whereby an enzyme is added to the prepared unknown and the reaction that occurs is either positive or negative. Assay Principle: ELISA assays operate on the basis of competition between the drug or its metabolite in the sample and the drug-enzyme […]
What’s Salt Got to Do With It? Salting Out Effect
If Tina Turner was an inexperienced chromatographer, perhaps she would sing “What’s salt got to do with it?” One of the important aspects of forensic testing is the validity of the result. The validity of the result is comprised of assuring that a test result is: Precise-a measure of how closely the results can be […]
Expired Blood Tubes-What’s the Big Deal??
So you have a case where the state used expired blood tubes and they want to perform analytical chemistry for either Drugs of Abuse testing or ETOH testing. So what’s the big deal about that???? Well I am so glad that you asked…. Simple. Unlike what most people think it has nothing to do with […]
Lecture on Analytical Chemistry in BAC testing Part 13
The above is Part Thirteen from a lecture given by Attorney Justin J. McShane before the North Carolina Advocates for Justice “Advanced DWI Seminar”. This seminar happened on February 26, 2010. It was organized and hosted by John K. Fanney, Esquire of Fanney & Jackson, P.C. The following is a transcript of this video: In […]
Lecture on Analytical Chemistry in BAC testing Part 12
The above is Part Twelve from a lecture given by Attorney Justin J. McShane before the North Carolina Advocates for Justice “Advanced DWI Seminar”. This seminar happened on February 26, 2010. It was organized and hosted by John K. Fanney, Esquire of Fanney & Jackson, P.C. The following is a transcript of this video: You […]
Lecture on Analytical Chemistry in BAC testing Part 10
The above is Part Ten from a lecture given by Attorney Justin J. McShane before the North Carolina Advocates for Justice “Advanced DWI Seminar”. This seminar happened on February 26, 2010. It was organized and hosted by John K. Fanney, Esquire of Fanney & Jackson, P.C. The following is a transcript of this video: I […]
Lecture on Analytical Chemistry in BAC testing Part 9
The above is Part Nine from a lecture given by Attorney Justin J. McShane before the North Carolina Advocates for Justice “Advanced DWI Seminar”. This seminar happened on February 26, 2010. It was organized and hosted by John K. Fanney, Esquire of Fanney & Jackson, P.C. The following is a transcript of this video: Let’s […]
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