Biomaterial Database

Advances in forensic toxicology. 1998

M A Peat

LabOne, Inc., Lenexa, Kansas, USA. mike.peat@labone.com

Over the last 15 years there have been many changes in the practice of forensic toxicology. One of the most noteworthy has been the recognition of the need for good laboratory practices in the forensic toxicology laboratory. This has resulted in the development of an accreditation program for laboratories. Increasingly, forensic toxicologists are asked to interpret results in driving under the influence of drug cases. These interpretations are also difficult because of the lack of data correlating blood (or plasma) concentrations with impairment. The development of newer immunoassays and hyphenated mass spectrometric techniques now allow the forensic toxicologist to assay a large number of drugs (both traditional and products of the biotechnology revolution) with increasing sensitivity. This article focuses on these changes and some of the challenges facing the forensic toxicologists of the 21st century.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007118	Immunoassay	A technique using antibodies for identifying or quantifying a substance. Usually the substance being studied serves as antigen both in antibody production and in measurement of antibody by the test substance.	Immunochromatographic Assay,Assay, Immunochromatographic,Assays, Immunochromatographic,Immunoassays,Immunochromatographic Assays
D011786	Quality Control	A system for verifying and maintaining a desired level of quality in a product or process by careful planning, use of proper equipment, continued inspection, and corrective action as required. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	Control, Quality,Controls, Quality,Quality Controls
D005554	Forensic Medicine	The application of medical knowledge to questions of law.	Legal Medicine,Medicine, Forensic,Medicine, Legal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000068	Accreditation	Certification as complying with a standard set by non-governmental organizations, applied for by institutions, programs, and facilities on a voluntary basis.	Accreditations
D000428	Alcohol Drinking	Behaviors associated with the ingesting of ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, including social drinking.	Alcohol Consumption,Alcohol Intake,Drinking, Alcohol,Alcohol Drinking Habits,Alcohol Drinking Habit,Alcohol Intakes,Consumption, Alcohol,Drinking Habit, Alcohol,Habit, Alcohol Drinking,Habits, Alcohol Drinking,Intake, Alcohol
D001334	Automobile Driving	The effect of environmental or physiological factors on the driver and driving ability. Included are driving fatigue, and the effect of drugs, disease, and physical disabilities on driving.	Automobile Drivings,Driving, Automobile,Drivings, Automobile
D013058	Mass Spectrometry	An analytical method used in determining the identity of a chemical based on its mass using mass analyzers/mass spectrometers.	Mass Spectroscopy,Spectrometry, Mass,Spectroscopy, Mass,Spectrum Analysis, Mass,Analysis, Mass Spectrum,Mass Spectrum Analysis,Analyses, Mass Spectrum,Mass Spectrum Analyses,Spectrum Analyses, Mass
D014116	Toxicology	The science concerned with the detection, chemical composition, and biological action of toxic substances or poisons and the treatment and prevention of toxic manifestations.	Toxinology,Evidence Based Toxicology,Evidence-Based Toxicology,Based Toxicologies, Evidence,Based Toxicology, Evidence,Evidence Based Toxicologies,Evidence-Based Toxicologies,Toxicologies, Evidence Based,Toxicologies, Evidence-Based,Toxicology, Evidence Based,Toxicology, Evidence-Based
D015813	Substance Abuse Detection	Detection of drugs that have been abused, overused, or misused, including legal and illegal drugs. Urine screening is the usual method of detection.	Drug Abuse Testing,Illicit Drug Testing,Street Drug Testing,Substance Abuse Testing,Drug Abuse Detection,Drug Abuse Screening,Illicit Drug Detection,Street Drug Detection,Detection, Drug Abuse,Detection, Illicit Drug,Detection, Street Drug,Detection, Substance Abuse,Detections, Drug Abuse,Detections, Illicit Drug,Detections, Street Drug,Detections, Substance Abuse,Drug Abuse Detections,Drug Abuse Screenings,Drug Abuse Testings,Drug Testing, Illicit,Drug Testings, Illicit,Illicit Drug Detections,Illicit Drug Testings,Screening, Drug Abuse,Screenings, Drug Abuse,Street Drug Detections,Street Drug Testings,Substance Abuse Detections,Substance Abuse Testings,Testing, Drug Abuse,Testing, Illicit Drug,Testing, Street Drug,Testing, Substance Abuse,Testings, Drug Abuse,Testings, Illicit Drug,Testings, Street Drug,Testings, Substance Abuse