In the first part of this interview with Maria Olds of the University of Texas at Arlington, she discusses why preanalytical techniques should be considered for ethanol analysis.
Forensic science is used for a variety of purposes from enforcing criminal law to protecting public health (1). It is now standard practice to use advanced forensic techniques, such as fingerprinting, DNA testing, and more, when assessing physical crime scenes (2). These techniques are improving how crimes are solved in the field. Maria Olds of the University of Texas at Arlington is one of these researchers.
Maria Olds is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Texas at Arlington in the chemistry department under advisor Daniel W. Armstrong, studying chromatography with a focus on chiral separations. Prior to returning to academia, Olds worked as a chemist for 17 years, specializing in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and forensics. She initially worked in research and development at MRIGlobal (previously Midwest Research Institute) in Kansas City, and more recently worked for the Fort Worth Police Department Crime Laboratory as a seized drug analyst and blood alcohol toxicologist. Olds received a master of science in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida, and has authored six publications, five of which are related to blood alcohol concentration determination, and two of which are co-authored by Alan Wayne Jones of Indiana University Bloomington and the National Board of Forensic Medicine in Linköping, Sweden (3).
Olds’ recent research has focused on preanalytical effects that can impact ethanol analysis in blood and urine samples. These conditions, such as potential contamination and time elements, can make it difficult to properly analyze and quantify ethanol in the system.
In part one of our interview with Olds, she discusses the importance of this research, alongside why using headspace (HS) gas chromatography (GC) with a flame ionization detector (FID) the preferred method of ethanol analysis in human blood and urine.
For more coverage of forensic science, pieces like
(1) What is Forensic Science? American Academy of Forensic Sciences 2025.
(2) The Role of Forensics in Modern Criminal Investigations. Northwest Career College 2025.
(3) Jones, A. W.: Robert F. Borkenstein Courses. Indiana University Bloomington 2025.
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