USADA presents at the ACS National Meeting about Doping in Sports

USADA presents at the ACS National Meeting about Doping in Sports

On March 31, 2015, in Announcements, Ethics, GC-FID & GC/MS, Infrared Spectroscopy, Laboratory Procedure, Pharmacology, Solid Drug Dose, by Justin J. McShane

USADA presents at the ACS National Meeting about Doping in Sports   On March 23, 2015, Attorneys Justin J. McShane of The McShane Firm, LLC and Josh D. Lee of Ward, Lee and Coats moderated a symposium at the national American Chemical Society meeting in Denver, Colorado. The symposium concerned the chemistry and the law […]

The scientific and legal truth behind Stand-off detection of alcohol in car cabins

The scientific and legal truth behind Stand-off detection of alcohol in car cabins

On June 9, 2014, in Breath Testing, Equipment, Infrared Spectroscopy, by Justin J. McShane

The scientific and legal truth behind Stand-off detection of alcohol in car cabins A Huffington Post Article recently caught our eyes: New Laser Device May Be A Drunk Driver’s Worst Nightmare By Jacqueline Howard  Posted: 06/08/2014 7:28 am EDT Updated: 06/08/2014 7:59 am EDT. Just the title alone captured our imagination. So we looked into […]

“I Googled it” said the crime lab

“I Googled it” said the crime lab

On January 7, 2014, in Ethics, Ethics: Scientist, Identification, In The Courtroom, Infrared Spectroscopy, Solid Drug Dose, by Justin J. McShane

We have posted here before stories about drug seizures and identifications that are wrong. Basically, the old: “I know it is a drug just by looking at it” police work. It is a modern malicious marvel that creeps into the courtroom. Roadside screening tests such as the NIK Public Safety Reagent Based Tests Can Provide […]

A Forensic Measurement Device is Not an X Box

A Forensic Measurement Device is Not an X Box

On December 24, 2013, in Equipment, GC-FID & GC/MS, Infrared Spectroscopy, Metrology, by Justin J. McShane

In forensic science there are many analytical instruments that are used to identify and quantify. For example, there is Gas Chromatography and Breath Testuing Devices (infrared spectroscopy or electrochemical) in DUI. When these devices are deployed in the field or in the laboratory, they are not properly deployed. What we have in forensic science is […]

Chemical Measurement Process and The Calibration Function: How to best calibrate an instrument used in forensic science

Chemical Measurement Process and The Calibration Function: How to best calibrate an instrument used in forensic science

On May 14, 2013, in Arson, Breath Testing, Chemistry, DNA, GC-FID & GC/MS, Identification, In The Courtroom, Infrared Spectroscopy, Metrology, Solid Drug Dose, by Justin J. McShane

The technical goal of any calibration related effort is t0 achieve a meaningful and valid CMP. According to The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC): Chemical Measurement Process (CMP): An analytical method of defined structure that has been brought into a state of statistical control, such that its imprecision and bias are fixed, […]

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Of moos and clucks-the myth of FTIR identification

Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Of moos and clucks-the myth of FTIR identification

On March 8, 2012, in Chemistry, Contextual Bias, Equipment, Ethics, Ethics: Scientist, Identification, In The Courtroom, Infrared Spectroscopy, Solid Drug Dose, by Justin J. McShane

Of moos and clucks-the myth of FTIR identification By:  Frederic Whitehurst, J.D., Ph.D. [1] OK, so we will now discuss moos and clucks. Which is the basis for the problem with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) in forensic science. [2] If you close your eyes in a stock yard you can’t tell what moo came […]