Blood Testing: Understanding the Science Behind DUI Testing (Online Seminar)

A pre-recorded streaming AUDIO replay of the January 2021 webcast, Blood Testing: Understanding the Science Behind DUI Testing.

If you represent clients who have been charged with DUI, or are a prosecutor who handles DUI cases, it is important to have a working knowledge of breath testing, blood testing, and field sobriety testing, and the issues related to each test. This is one of three 2-hour Understanding the Science Behind DUI Testing programs designed to assist the legal practitioner to better understand the science behind DUI testing, and how to spot the potential issues related to each one of the three types of DUI testing: breath, blood, and field sobriety testing.

This seminar will focus on blood testing and is designed to be an in-depth discussion on the difference between hospital and Department of Forensics Science blood tests, and where the problems occur for each test. Understanding the complexities of blood testing well enough to spot issues with the tests can be crucial to the outcome of a DUI case. 

You can understand the science of blood testing even if you struggled with high school chemistry! The presenter will discuss:

• What gas chromatography, flame ionization detection, mass spec, and enzyme assay are
• Where and when problems occur with blood tests
• How to overcome substantial compliance arguments in trial
• How to track a blood sample from the blood draw to certificate
• Where to find free resources

And more!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Jeff C. Martin, Tillotson & Martin / Newport News
Jeff Martin is a partner in the law firm of Tillotson & Martin—primarily a DUI Defense firm.  For over a decade, he has co-authored Virginia DUI Law: Understanding the Scientific, Medical, Technological, and Legal Aspects of a DUI Case, (Vol. 16, Virginia Practice Series) for Thomson Reuters Westlaw and continues to update and enlarge the book every year.

Jeff Martin was the first and currently one of only two attorneys in Virginia with an American Chemical Society (ACS) Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation as recognized by the Chemistry and the Law Division of ACS.  This training and designation signifies a depth of understanding and hands-on experience in the science of blood alcohol testing, DUI-drug, and solid drug cases.

Mr. Martin is also trained on Virginia’s current evidentiary breath test machine: the Intox EC/IR II.  His firm owns an Intox EC/IR and has hosted seminars for judges and attorneys. He is also trained on the NHTSA Field Sobriety Tests and completed classes in NHTSA’s Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training. 

Mr. Martin is a member of the American Chemical Society, the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD), the DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA), Forensic Chromatography Lawyers (ChromLawyers), and the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL).

Mr. Martin graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Biology with extensive course work in physiology and chemistry. He worked for an Anatomy and Physiology Lab and participated in original research. He was also a trauma tech at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma (MIEMSS) in the Critical Care Recovery and Intensive Care Units.