The Week 40 Forensic Science Geek of the Week is announced

The Forensic Science Geek of the Week

The week 40 “www.TheTruthAboutForensicScience.com Forensic Science Geek of the Week” honors goes to: Robert Lantz, Ph.D.

According to his website (Rocky Mountain Instrumentation Laboratories):

We provide contract chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis (HPLC/MS) of pharmaceuticals (both traditional drugs and biotechnology products, such as proteins and peptides and oligonucleotides), veterinary and human endocrinology, and forensic toxicology, including fentanyl, T HC, tryptamines, and other forensic testing and testimony. We now offer assays for certain antibiotics (cephalosporins and aminoglycosides) and the insecticide Fipronil. We develop stability-indicating assays, including degradant identification, for the pharmaceutical industry. We also provide therapeutic drug monitoring for several less-common drugs, such as Taxol, Doxorubicin, Tacrolimus, rapamycin ( Sirolimus.) and Everolimus. Everything that we do is centered about and united by chemical testing. We offer HPLC/MS/MS, HPLC/PDA, GC/MS/MS, FT/IR, Dissolution, and Stability Testing. We are FDA registered and inspected, follow cGLP protocols, and are CLIA certified. We also are certified by the Colorado Department of Health to perform clinical and forensic toxicology testing. We also have a number of LCMSMS analyses for antibiotics, such as cephapirin, amoxicillin, and vancomycin. We provide both clinical and pre-clinical method development and performance. Robert K. Lantz, Ph.D. and Patricia L. Sulik, Ph.D. are the directors of RML.

Congratulations to our Forensic Science Geek of the Week winner!

All hail the www.TheTruthAboutForensicScience.com Forensic Science Geek of the Week!!!

See the challenge question that our winner correctly answered.

OFFICIAL QUESTION:

: Forensic Science Geek of the Week Challenge

1. What is the name of this instrument?

2. What forensic science disciplines is it used for?

3. What is this instrument’s limitations?

Please visit the www.TheTruthAboutForensicScience.com FaceBook fan page.

Our Geek of the Week answered:

It is a Nicolet FT/IR with (likely) a diamond cell ATR. This is an odd way to place the ATR accessory in the sample compartment, but it will work. It can be used for paint comparison, fiber analysis, explosives identification, but most commonly for solid drug ID. With other accessories, it can be used to depth profile IR transmitting films. The major limitation is that the identities are never sure. IR gives good, but not definitive information. It also is not terribly sensitive. Although spectra can be deconvolved, and multiple components “identified” must be confirmed with another technique. However, it is great for non-volatile solids as well as volatiles (with the right sample cell). It is worthless on IR-opaque samples with the ATR accessory. I use it primarily with powders and films for which I have little information. It can be useful to provide an initial estimate. This model is being phased out of the product line.

[BLOGGER’S NOTE: Here is some more information:

http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/fourier-transform-infrared-spectrophotometer-ftir]

The Hall of Fame for the www.TheTruthAboutForensicScience.com Forensic Science Geek of the Week:
Week 1: Chuck Ramsay, Esquire

Week 2: Rick McIndoe, PhD

Week 3: Christine Funk, Esquire

Week 4: Stephen Daniels

Week 5: Stephen Daniels

Week 6: Richard Middlebrook, Esquire

Week 7: Christine Funk, Esquire

Week 8: Ron Moore, B.S., J.D.

Week 9: Ron Moore, B.S., J.D.

Week 10: Kelly Case, Esquire and Michael Dye, Esquire