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Blood & Chemical Testing: What You Need to Know & Why You Need to Know It - 12.5 CLE / .5 E - 2023


Blood & Chemical Testing: What You Need to Know & Why You Need to Know It

12.5 CLE / .5 E - This program has concluded. Please join us next time.


ICLEF is pleased to bring a special CLE opportunity to those whose practices deal significantly in the arena of DUI/OWI Defense or in Civil Cases that involve physical evidence. Please join us on August 24-25 for a two-day, in-depth examination into the science and law relating to chemical testing, specifically blood and urine testing. Join nationally recognized chemist and laboratory data quality auditor Janine Arvizu along with Indiana criminal defense attorney and certified phlebotomist Charles Rathburn, Jr as they assemble a faculty of the country’s foremost scientists and attorneys in this challenging area. Our agenda will include discussions of both scientific depth and strong legal advocacy, including best practices within the trial preparation process.

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TOPICS DAY 1:

Overview & Welcome - Charles J. Rathburn, Jr & Janine Arvizu


One Man’s Forensic Journey - Frederic W. Whitehurst


In the beginning: The information you need on-board to handle DUI forensics – Janine Arvizu & Charles J. Rathburn

• SFSTs & DREs; Breath, Blood, and Urine

• Case-specific details - Intake Checklist

• How to obtain discovery from law enforcement; government labs; commercial labs and hospitals: MTC, SDT, FOIA, Order, Polite Requests and Back-Channels

• What discovery to request


The Analytical Process: the sometimes-winding path to a reported result

• Timing

• Risks during each stage

• Special circumstances - multiple reports and re-tests

• Special circumstances – commercial labs

• Special circumstances – hospital assays


Voire Dire - Lunch and Learn with Robert B. Hirschhorn


The Specimen and Discovery - Janine Arvizu & Charles J. Rathburn

• Demonstration!

• Collection and Storage

• Clinical vs Forensic Practice

• Issue: Syringe vs Evacuated Tube Methods

• Issue: Non-aseptic Collection

• Issue: Wrong Tube (how to tell)

• Issue: Expired Tubes (how to tell)

• Issue: Underfilled Tubes (how to tell)

• Issue: Clotted Blood (how to tell)

• Issue: Unrefrigerated for >48 hours

• Issue: GO SEE THE EVIDENCE


Gas Chromatography

• Chromatography Theory

• GC Hardware

• Headspace theory

• Headspace hardware

• Instrument Operation/Control


Headspace Sample Prep and Discovery

• Analytical samples

• Handheld Pipettes

• Diluters


Batches and Discovery - A Day in the life of a toxicology analyst…


TOPICS DAY 2:

Corruption of forensic drug testing: Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC - Dr. Frederic W. Whitehurst


Method Calibration and Discovery - Janine Arvizu & Charles J. Rathburn

• CRMs

• Internal standard

• Frequency; dos and don’ts


Metrology and Discovery

• Equipment Calibration

• Uncertainty

• Traceability


Method Validation and Discovery

• Scope

• When to validate/revalidate


Quality Control and Discovery

• Types and purposes of QC

• Mulligans

• Original evidence: Data collection, processing, and presentation

• Manual integration


Quality Assurance and Discovery

• Accreditation – what it does and doesn’t mean?

• Audits, Objectivity, and Facility Controls

• Corrective Actions/NCRs

• Personnel Competence

• Meeting Minutes


Ethical Considerations working with Blood and Chemical Evidence

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FACULTY:

Charles J. Rathburn, Jr. - Co-Chair

Rathburn Law Office, Indianapolis, IN

Janine Arvizu - Co-Chair

Quality Auditor, Independent Consultant, Tijeras, NM


Robert B. Hirschhorn

Cathy E. Bennett & Associates, Highland Village, TX


Dr. Frederic Whitehurst

Law Office of Frederic Whitehurst, Bethel, NC

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Blood & Chemical Testing: What You Need to Know & Why You Need to Know It

12.5 CLE / .5 E - On Demand Seminar



ICLEF • Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, Indianapolis, IN • Premier Indiana CLE

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