Chapter 5 Forensic Toxicology
Chapter 5 – Forensic Toxicology
1. What are the three areas covered by forensic toxicology?
Toxicology covers post-mortem drug testing, workplace drug testing and investigations into contraband materials.
2. Name six specimen types that are often tested in forensic toxicology. Under what circumstances is each specimen preferred?
Blood – When testing for DUI’s, and two samples for every death case.
Urine – Preemployment drug testing and is preferred over blood as its eacsy to collect large amounts.
Bile and liver fluid – Useful for identifying certain types of drugs
Hair – Preemployment testing and is advantageous for looking further back in time
Oral fluid – Provides the same benefits of urine without invasion of privacy
Breath – Used for preliminary test on highways
3. Name the NIDA 5. Draw a table showing the following characteristics of each drug: structure of a representative molecule, drug group, symptoms of overdose and drug source.
National Institute on Drug Abuse 5 cites the following drugs
4. Name several groups of medicinal drugs often involved in fatalities. What characteristics render a drug most likely to be associated with overdose deaths?
Sedative hynotics, cardioactive agents, antipsychotic agents, antiepileptic drugs and antidepressants. Miss use, or organ damage leading to failure of metabolism.
5. A 210-pound male consumes three highballs each of which was made with 2 ounces of 80 proof whiskey. What is the expected peak in his blood alcohol concentration?
His blood alcohol concentration would raise by less than 0.06% as he is larger than an average male.
6. Name three methods for drug screening describe the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Name
Advantages
Disadvantages
Immunoassays
High sensitivity
Not 100% specific
Thin Layer Chromatography
Can identify hundreds of compounds in one run and is inexpensive
Labour intensive and highly technical
Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry
Reliable compound recognition
Cannot identify less
1. What are the three areas covered by forensic toxicology?
Toxicology covers post-mortem drug testing, workplace drug testing and investigations into contraband materials.
2. Name six specimen types that are often tested in forensic toxicology. Under what circumstances is each specimen preferred?
Blood – When testing for DUI’s, and two samples for every death case.
Urine – Preemployment drug testing and is preferred over blood as its eacsy to collect large amounts.
Bile and liver fluid – Useful for identifying certain types of drugs
Hair – Preemployment testing and is advantageous for looking further back in time
Oral fluid – Provides the same benefits of urine without invasion of privacy
Breath – Used for preliminary test on highways
3. Name the NIDA 5. Draw a table showing the following characteristics of each drug: structure of a representative molecule, drug group, symptoms of overdose and drug source.
National Institute on Drug Abuse 5 cites the following drugs
4. Name several groups of medicinal drugs often involved in fatalities. What characteristics render a drug most likely to be associated with overdose deaths?
Sedative hynotics, cardioactive agents, antipsychotic agents, antiepileptic drugs and antidepressants. Miss use, or organ damage leading to failure of metabolism.
5. A 210-pound male consumes three highballs each of which was made with 2 ounces of 80 proof whiskey. What is the expected peak in his blood alcohol concentration?
His blood alcohol concentration would raise by less than 0.06% as he is larger than an average male.
6. Name three methods for drug screening describe the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Name
Advantages
Disadvantages
Immunoassays
High sensitivity
Not 100% specific
Thin Layer Chromatography
Can identify hundreds of compounds in one run and is inexpensive
Labour intensive and highly technical
Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry
Reliable compound recognition
Cannot identify less