The Collection of SUBSTANCES And how their used to help solve a crime.
A screen test can easily check for a wide range of poison and drugs. Blood and urine are the most common samples used for screening, they are also the easiest to obtain. Hair is also good for testing substance abuse that has occurred over a long period of time. The most familiar use of Forensic Toxicology to people is testing for drug and alcohol. It can be used to find out if drug overdoses were intended or accidental, it can be associated with sexual assaults that involve drugs.
If the screening is for drugs it must be with in this time period.
During the autopsy Forensic Toxicologists can use a sample of the persons gastric content to find out if they ingested any liquids or pills before their death; the brain, liver and spleen can also be used during testing. When collecting samples the best place to put them is in a disposable hard plastic or glass tube. The samples must be kept at at temperature of no more then 4ºC to ensure sample integrity.
When Forensic Toxicologists are trying to determine cause of death they can see if, first the victim had any drugs or alcohol in their system and if they did have either if the drugs or alcohol were in the toxic or lethal range; they also take into consideration other information such as symptoms before death.
If the screening is for drugs it must be with in this time period.
- Alcohol: 3 to 10 hours
- Amphetamines: 24 to 48 hours
- Barbiturates: up to 6 weeks
- Benzodiazepines: up to 6 weeks with high level use
- Cocaine: 2 to 4 days; up to 10 to 22 days with heavy use
- Codeine: 1 to 2 days
- Heroin: 1 to 2 days
- Hydromorphone: 1 to 2 days
- Methadone: 2 to 3 days
- Morphine: 1 to 2 days
- Phencyclidine (PCP): 1 to 8 days
- Propoxyphene: 6 to 48 hours
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): 6 to 11 weeks with heavy use
During the autopsy Forensic Toxicologists can use a sample of the persons gastric content to find out if they ingested any liquids or pills before their death; the brain, liver and spleen can also be used during testing. When collecting samples the best place to put them is in a disposable hard plastic or glass tube. The samples must be kept at at temperature of no more then 4ºC to ensure sample integrity.
When Forensic Toxicologists are trying to determine cause of death they can see if, first the victim had any drugs or alcohol in their system and if they did have either if the drugs or alcohol were in the toxic or lethal range; they also take into consideration other information such as symptoms before death.