Degree: MPhil Biomedical Forensic Science. 

Title: The development of a HS-GC-FID/FID method for the quantitative analysis of ethanol and volatile compounds in ante- and post-mortem blood and vitreous humour. 

Supervisors: Bronwen Davies & Mmitsane Khotseng 

Thesis description: My current research focuses on establishing blood alcohol concentration testing within the Forensic Toxicology Unit of the Western Cape Forensic Pathology Service, where this service is not yet offered. I am developing and validating a headspace gas chromatography method with dual flame ionisation detection to accurately quantify ethanol and other volatile compounds in blood and vitreous humour from both ante- and post-mortem samples. This work will expand the unit’s service offering, reduce reliance on external laboratories, and strengthen local forensic capacity. Given the high number of road traffic fatalities and deaths involving alcohol or drugs, the project will support more efficient casework and provide pathologists with more comprehensive toxicological data, including additional volatile compounds such as acetaldehyde, isopropanol, propanol and acetone.