Forensic Toxicology

Toxicology provides a key scientific analysis of chemicals in humans and their environment and is a powerful weapon in an attorney's arsenal of evidence.

Forensic Toxicologists analyze and identify chemicals, natural and man-made, and the full range of exposure situations from the natural presence of chemicals in the environment to their extraction or synthesis, use and disposal as well as the intended ingestion of drugs and chemicals for recreational use.

Board Certification Imperative

Toxicology requires a detailed knowledge of chemical exposure and of biological effects. Proper certification of the toxicologial expert is an important step in selecting the proper expert. The American Borad of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT)is the certifying board for forensic toxicology - doctorate level toxicologists must pass a comprehensive examination to reach diplomate status. A diplomate of the ABFT is a person with the highest degree of professinal education, attainments and competence in forensic toxicology.

Toxicologists must be aware of the different physical forms in which chemicals can exist and the significance of these forms for exposure and consequent effects of chemicals. They should be aware of the constant movement of chemicals between physical forms and how this may influence exposure patterns.

In post-mortem examinations, examiners look for the absence or presence of drugs and their metabolites and evaluate their role as a determinant or contributory factor in the cause and manner of death.

Toxicology in the Courtroom

Common in competency cases where questions of drugs have been raised in human performance issues, toxicologists determine the absence or presence of ethanol and other drugs and chemicals in blood, breath or other appropriate specimen(s), and evaluates their role in modifying human performance or behavior.

Additionally, civil and toxic tort cases provide the court a need to determine the source and provide proof of reaction in the body to victim's of unnecessary exposure.

Peer Reviewed Toxicology A Must

The importance of toxicology opinion to provide specific numbers and statistical analysis highlights the great benefit peer review provides. Within The Forensic Panel, we developed peer reviewed forensic expertise to ensure that the toxicological examination yields an exact science, and one which reflects standards of the laboratory sciences. The Forensic Panel is the only consultation practice in America that seeks to protect the integrity of toxicological opinions to the court by peer reviewed oversight. Such an approach is especially necessary to establish scientific certainty in the more cutting-edge areas of forensic toxicology.