Toxicology

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​lady in the lab looking at samplesToxicology is the study of adverse effects of drugs and chemicals on living organisms. The discipline is divided into three​ major areas: Forensic, Clinical and Environmental. Forensic Toxicology applies toxicology to matters of law, to assist the courts in reaching verdicts that are in keeping with the facts. Forensic toxicology involves the medicolegal aspects of the use of drugs and chemicals that are harmful to man combining analytical chemistry and fundamental toxicology. 

Toxicology analysts identify and quantify drugs and alcohols in biological samples. The information is used by law enforcement and the courts to help determine if laws have been broken and/or if criminal charges are warranted. For instance, when there is cause to believe that a person may have been under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, blood and urine samples are submitted for analysis. 

Toxicology testing can be as routine as a single blood alcohol test or as complex as determining concentrations of a half dozen drugs and their metabolites in a single sample. The level of testing depends on the case and the type(s) of sample(s) submitted.

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Service​s

The Toxicology Unit provides qualitative and quantitative analysis using instrumental methods to identify compounds.

Instrumental analysis

  • Headspace-Gas Chromatography (HS-GC)
  • Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
  • Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GCMS)
  • Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry (LCMSMS).

The Medical-Forensic Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) Kits are available free of charge to law enforcement from Document Sales.

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Contact the Lab FAQs

All three laboratory locations offer toxicology testing. See Crime Laboratories Service Area map for what location serves your county. 

The lab tests for a wide variety of drugs of abuse, over-the-counter medications, and prescription medications; however, not every drug available is offered for testing. The lab continually works to expand the testing scope. Consult a toxicologist if you have questions about a specific drug.  

The lab does not retest samples. Every analysis a case undergoes has been validated to demonstrate its ability to perform consistently and accurately. Additionally, each case is rigorously reviewed prior to being written in a report. The stability of drugs in biological specimens is subject to change after analysis has taken place; therefore, a retesting of a sample may have unintended consequences.

A chemistry supervisor or toxicologist can provide an agency with the custody status of an item. These individuals may also provide a list of recommended reference laboratories. See the document of Toxicology Reference Laboratories.

Please contact the laboratory in your service area. The analyst who authored the report can answer specific questions. Another toxicologist or a chemistry supervisor can answer general questions regarding scope of testing, submission guidelines, etc. Note: Only privileged parties can inquire about specific result information.

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Submissions FAQs

Samples should be refrigerated after collection and prior to delivery at the lab. Reference the current revision of the Toxicology Evidence Submission Guidelines document.

Gray-top tubes with potassium oxalate and sodium fluoride is the preferred specimen container. Contact the laboratory if you have any questions regarding collection.