Forensic toxicology

Forensic toxicology analyzes biological and other evidence for drugs, poisons, and their effects in legal investigations. It interprets chemical findings in relation to exposure, impairment, injury, or death.

Toxicological analysis: The detection and measurement of chemicals and their effects in biological systems. Forensic toxicology applies these analytical methods to evidence gathered for legal questions.
Blood alcohol content: The concentration of ethanol in blood, commonly used to assess alcohol exposure and impairment. It is a frequent quantitative finding in impaired-driving investigations.
Toxicology: The study of harmful effects caused by chemicals and other agents in living organisms. Forensic toxicology applies this broader science to questions raised by legal investigations.
Clinical toxicology: The diagnosis and treatment of patients exposed to harmful substances. It prioritizes immediate care, while forensic work addresses legal questions and evidence.
Mass spectrometry: An analytical technique that identifies ions by their mass-to-charge ratios. It helps confirm and quantify drugs and metabolites in complex case samples.
Driving under the influence: Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or another substance. Toxicological evidence can help establish whether a substance contributed to driving impairment.
Pharmacokinetics: The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and eliminates substances. It explains why a measured concentration depends on dose, timing, and biological change.
Analytical chemistry: The branch of chemistry concerned with identifying substances and measuring their amounts. It supplies methods shared with forensic toxicology but does not itself interpret legal significance.
Immunoassay: An analytical method that uses antibodies to detect or measure specific substances. Screening immunoassays can quickly flag drug classes before confirmatory testing.
Drug-facilitated sexual assault: Sexual assault in which a substance is used to impair or incapacitate a person. Short detection windows and delayed reporting make targeted sample analysis consequential.

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