Forensic Toxicology

Forensic toxicologists perform scientific tests on bodily fluids and tissue samples to identify any drugs or chemicals present in the body. Working in a lab, the forensic toxicologist performs tests on samples collected by forensic pathologists during an autopsy or by crime scene investigators.

Forensic toxicology is a part of the science of pharmacology, which is concerned with the quantities and effects of various drugs and poisons on human beings. In forensic toxicology the main interest is the extent to which drugs and poisons may have contributed to impairment or death. More than half of the cases received by forensic toxicologists involve drinking alcohol and driving. Every state and the Federal Government has laws that prohibit drinking and driving and set levels above which a person is either impaired or OUIL. Forensic toxicologists are called upon to determine the level of alcohol present in the body and sometimes, the level at a previous time and the effects on the person. Read More

Forensic toxicology refers to the use of toxicology for the purposes of law. Therefore, it can be defined as the science that deals with medical and legal aspects of the harmful effects of the chemicals on the human body. It is considered a hybrid of analytical chemistry and fundamental toxicology. The efforts and activities are diverse, including detection of drugs in urine, regulatory toxicology, occupational disease, identification of agents causing death or injury in humans and animals, and courtroom testimony and consultation concerning toxicoses to provide support for diagnosis, identification of poison and management/treatment, and prognosis of poisoned individuals. Read Brief

There are various types of toxicology as outlined below:

• Analytical toxicology
• Applied toxicology
• Clinical toxicology
• Veterinary toxicology
• Forensic toxicology
• Environment toxicology
• Industrial toxicology

1. Analytical toxicology: It is the branch of toxicology which deals with the study of detection and assay of poisonous chemicals including their metabolites that could affect the biological system.
2. Applied toxicology: It is the application of new and modern methods or technologies for early detection of toxicants in the field setting or practice area.
3. Clinical toxicology: It is mainly involved in the study of diagnosis and treatment of poisoning that can occurrin humans.
4. Veterinary toxicology: Veterinary toxicology focus in the study of diagnosis and treatment of animal poisoning including the transmission of toxin from animals to humans via milk, meat, fish, food stuff and etc.
5. Environmental toxicology: It is the branch of toxicology in which study of presence of different toxicants including their metabolites and degradation products in the environment and their effects on humans and animals.
6. Industrial toxicology: It is the study of selective and specific are of environmental toxicology. Reference: Medimoon

Toxicology screening can be done fairly quickly. The test is most often done using a urine or blood sample. In some cases, a sample of saliva or hair may be used. The results can show the presence of one specific drug or a variety of drugs at once.

A toxicology screen is a test that determines the approximate amount and type of legal or illegal drugs that you’ve taken. It may be used to screen for drug abuse, to monitor a substance abuse problem, or to evaluate drug intoxication or overdose.

Toxicology testing may be something you don't expect to happen to you, but it might. In fact, workplace drug testing is common in the US, as is athletic drug testing.

• What are the procedures surrounding these tests?
• Should you be concerned?
• What about the states that have legalized recreational marijuana use?

In general, there are four types of toxicology testing:

• Forensic Toxicology Testing
• Workplace Drug Testing
• Clinical or Hospital Drug Testing
• Athletic Drug Testing

• All specimens, which may include blood, urine, hair, bone or organ tissue samples are gathered, maintained and disposed of with the utmost of care in a chain-of-custody fashion.
• Blood may be taken from the heart and femoral leg vein, and is often preserved with sodium fluoride.
• Tissue and fluid samples may be collected from the brain, liver, kidney, cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous humor (clear jelly from inside the eye), bile, and gastric (stomach) contents.
• All laboratory procedures and analyses are done under scientifically sound and legally defensible standards, which includes initial and confirmatory testing