NCJ Number
166787
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1996) Pages: 57-71
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The current status of forensic toxicology is described, with emphasis on current issues, analytic techniques, quantitation and identification, and the interpretation of results.
Abstract
Current issues include the drugs and chemicals of concern, laboratory safety, sensitivity and accuracy, quality assurance, scientific literature, professional liaison, stewardship of resources, and drug impairment. Issues related to analytic techniques, quantitation, and identification include drug extraction, immunoassay, the automation and handling of unconventional samples, chromatography, mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis, and the use of databases. Issues related to the interpretation of results include drug impairment, drug recognition expert systems, love drugs, the significance of drugs in hair, the use of cocaine psychosis or other drug issues as a defense in major crimes, post-mortem drug redistribution, and death from natural causes. 99 references