Webinar: Effective Courtroom Testimony for Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Sponsored by
SOFT/AAFS Drugs and Driving Committee

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Workshop Chairs
Mandi Mohr and Curt Harper

Date
Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 (available on-demand 24 hours after the conclusion of the webinar)

Time
10:00 am-12:30 pm Pacific/1:00 pm-3:30 pm Eastern

Abstract
This webinar is sponsored by the SOFT/AAFS Oral Fluid Committee in collaboration with the Regional Toxicology Liaison (RTL) Program. It leverages combined expertise in oral fluid drug testing and forensic testimony to provide focused training addressing both the scientific foundations of oral fluid drug testing and the real-world demands of expert testimony.

The first half of the webinar will focus on how toxicologists can clearly and effectively articulate why oral fluid test results are accurate and reliable, how analytical methods are validated and generally accepted, and how oral fluid drug testing has been used for decades across multiple sectors and international jurisdictions. Topics will include result interpretation, addressing common misconceptions, and navigating challenges frequently encountered during courtroom testimony.

The second half of the webinar will emphasize practical direct- and cross-examination scenarios, including strategies for explaining oral fluid results to judges and juries, responding to Daubert or Frye challenges, and integrating toxicological findings with behavioral evidence such as SFSTs and DRE evaluations, while remaining compliant with ASB Standard 037, Standard for Reports and Testimony in Forensic Toxicology.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the scientific principles underlying oral fluid drug testing, including collection, analysis, and result interpretation.
  • Explain strengths, limitations, and appropriate uses of oral fluid drug testing in forensic casework.
  • Apply strategies to effectively communicate oral fluid results in court during testimony.
  • Respond to potential defense challenges related to oral fluid drug testing.
  • Evaluate oral fluid toxicology findings in conjunction with observational and investigative evidence in impaired-driving investigations.
Register Here

Webinar Schedule 

Part I – Oral Fluid Drug Testing & Interpretation (60 minutes)

  • Speaker 1: Chris Heartsill, BS, Setting the Stage for Oral Fluid as a Tool in DUID Investigations
  • Speaker 2: Nathalie Desrosiers, Ph.D., F-ABFT, Oral Fluid Drug Concentrations – What Do They Mean?

15 - Minute Break

Part II – Oral Fluid Testimony: (60 minutes)

  • Speaker 3 Jennifer Limoges, MS, Preparing the Courts for Evidential Oral Fluid
  • Speaker 4: Curt Harper, Ph.D., F-ABFT, Oral Fluid Drug Testing in Court: Daubert/Frye Challenges and Case-Based Interpretation Through Real-World Case Studies
Q&A Panel Discussion (15 minutes)