Objectives

Define key terms

Give history of toxicology as a forensic
science
Know what questions to answer as a
forensic toxicologist
Tell what forensic toxicology entails
Tell how it helps determine cause of
death
Know what the final toxicological report
should look like
State the value(s) of Forensic Toxicology

What is Forensic Toxicology

Forensic toxicology is a discipline of
forensic science concerned with the
study of toxic substances or poisons
in the aid of death/ criminal
investigation.

History
The first recorded start of forensic
toxicology was in the 19th century.
The first book written in 1814 about
forensic toxicology as written by a
Spanish chemist and physician who
is known as Mathieu Orfila.
He is referred to as the father of
toxicology.

Applications of Forensic Toxicology

To determine drugs and dosing for
hospital patients.
To identify crimes where toxicants are
used to poison or sedate.
To resolve cases of driving under the
influence.
To establish whether drugs have been
used to improve human performance,
as in sport doping

Applications of Forensic
Toxicology
Drug and alcohol testing in the
workplace.
Establish if toxicants are present and
capable of contributing to death (death
investigation).
Establish if toxicants are present and
capable of causing behavioural changes

Death investigation
toxicology
Forensic Toxicologists work with
pathologists, medical examiners and
coroners in helping to establish the
role of alcohol, drugs and poisons in
the cause of death.
The toxicologist identifies and
quantifies the presence of drugs and
chemicals in blood and tissue
samples.

Death investigation
toxicology
Instruments are used that are
capable of detecting small amounts
of toxic materials, positively
identifying them, and accurately
measuring how much is present.
Accuracy, validity and reliability are
essential, as this information is used
in the determination of cause and
manner of death.

Human Performance
Toxicology:
Human Performance Toxicology deals with
the effects of alcohol and drugs on human
performance and behavior, and the
medico legal consequences of drug and
alcohol use.
This may include investigations of
impaired driving, vehicular assault and
homicide, drug facilitated crimes including
sexual assault, and aircraft, motor vehicle
and maritime collision investigations

Human Performance
Toxicology
The forensic pathologist provides
interpretation of the result with
respect to whether the dose
represents typical therapeutic use,
recreational use, or potential abuse,
and can provide opinions about the
likely effects of these patterns of use.

Doping
Forensic toxicologists in this field use
many of the same high performance
analytical methods to detect current
and historical use of banned
substances, including stimulants,
anabolic steroids, and diuretics

Limitations of Forensic Toxicology

Availability of samples
Contamination of samples
Blood samples can be tainted by
medication
Respiratory problems and irregular
breathing can affect breathalyzer
test.

What is a Toxicology Report?

A toxicology report involves the detection, isolation,
identification, and determination of poisons and their
effects on the human body.
A forensic toxicology report typically includes
identification of drugs such as heroin, cocaine,
marijuana; detection of drugs and poisons in body
fluids, tissues and organs; and measuring of alcohol in
blood or urine samples.
The toxicologist will prepare a report which interprets
the results of the lab tests and present it to the courts.

What is a Toxicology
Report?
A forensic toxicologist will use samples of
body fluids, stomach contents, and organ
parts along with a autopsy report containing
information on symptoms and post-mortem
data to prepare a toxicology report.
The samples are screened and tested using
various techniques such as immunoassay,
gas chromatography and
massspectrometry.

What is a Toxicology
Report?
The toxicology report can provide key
information as to the type of substances
present in an individual and if the amount of
those substances is consistent with a
therapeutic dosage or is above a harmful level.
These results can be used to make inferences
when determining a substance's potential
effect on an individual's death, illness, or
mental or physical impairment.

What information does the

toxicology report contain?
The analysis report should contain information
depending on the type of testing requested.
A list of the specimens analysed and the tests
performed.
The methods used for the testing should be
clearly stated and include information
regarding the reliability of the test.
It should be clearly stated and characterized
by the corresponding statistical degree of
certainty.

Basic information on a
toxicology report

name and/or identification number

laboratory identification number
name of submitting agency or individual
submitting agency
date submitted
date of report
specimens tested
test results
signature of approving individual

Toxicology Report Sample

BRIAN D. BLACKBOURNE,M.D.
MEDICAL EXAMINER

DEPARTMENT OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER

5555 OVERLAND AVE., BLDG. 14, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92123-1270
TEL: (858) 694-2895 FAX:(858) 495-5956

TOXICOLOGY REPORT
San Bernardino County, California
Name:
TUREMAN, Harold M.

Date of Death:
Pathologist:

SBCCO#: 02-8704 EM

12/28/2002
Frank Sheridan, M.D.

Drug (Method of Analysis)

Alcohol Analysis (GC)
Alcohol (Ethanol)
Acetone, Methanol, Isopropanol
Drugs of Abuse Screen (ELISA)
Cocaine metabolites
Opiates
Methamphetamine
Benzodiazepines
Fentanyl
Carbon Monoxide Screen (PdCl2)
Carbon Monoxide (Spectrophotometry)
Cyanide (HPLC)

Specimen Tested

Result

Femoral Blood
0.27 % (w/v)
Not Detected
Femoral Blood
Not Detected
Not Detected
Not Detected
Not Detected
Not Detected
Femoral Blood
Femoral Blood
Femoral Blood

Presumptively Detected
33 % Saturation
Not Detected

End Results
Comments:

1. Blood ethanol (alcohol) concentrations in excess of 0.15 %

(w/v) can cause considerable depression of the Central
Nervous System (CNS).

2. Levels of carbon monoxide that exceed 30 % saturation,

alone, may be life threatening.

Approved:
Senior Analyst:
01/27/2003 Iain M. McIntvre, Ph.D.
Catherine E. Hamm
jrnw
Forensic Toxicology Laboratory-Manager
Toxicologist

Values of Forensic
Toxicology
Forensic toxicology has evolved greatly in
recent years and today it plays a vital role in
courts and other public forums throughout the
world, with the potential to resolve the
outcomes in criminal, coronial and civil
investigations.
All over the world people are found dead in
unexplained circumstances: they may be found
in bed at home or in hotels, or in squats or on
open ground.

Values of Forensic
Toxicology
Evidence found at the scene, such as
empty tablet bottles, bottles of
alcohol or drug-taking supplies can
help to indicate a drug or alcoholrelated death.
Forensic Toxicology can help to
determine the way substances are
absorbed, distributed, metabolized or
eliminated in the body.

Values of Forensic
Toxicology
Establish if toxicants are present and
capable of contributing to death
Establish if toxicants are present and
capable of causing behavioural
changes
Establish if substances are present
and whether or not they represent
legitimate use or exposure, such as
prescribed medications or workplace
exposures

References
Drugs.com (2016); Toxicology Tests and
Reports. Retrieved from
https://www.drugs.com/article/toxicology-tests.
html
Murnaghan I. Bsc (hons), MSc (2016); Forensic
Toxicology. Retrieved from
http://www.exploreforensics.co.uk/forensic-toxic
ology.html
National Forensic Science Technology Center
(2012). A simplified Guide to Forensic
Toxicology. Retrieved from
http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/tox/Tox

References
WedMD (2016); The truth Abut
Toxicology Tests. Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/
addiction/features/the-truth-abouttoxicology-tests?page=3