Toxicology is the study of chemicals and their harmful effects on living organisms. In forensic toxicology, these harmful chemicals are commonly drugs, alcohol, or poisons. Toxicology has roots in biology, chemistry, and medicine. While forensic toxicology is often conducted in government-funded labs concerned with law enforcement, it may also be performed by private testing facilities or in medical laboratory.
Before running a forensic toxicology test, a sample must first be collected and processed. Samples such as urine, blood, hair, or tissue are collected from a live or dead subject. One of the biggest challenges toxicologists face is trying to get results from very limited sample sizes. This makes it important to run all tests as carefully as possible and to choose equipment with high sensitivity. Techniques that test for multiple contaminants at one time help toxicologists make the most of a single sample.
Range of forensic toxicology products:
Chromatography instruments are used to separate chemical components before testing.
Mass spectrometry most often follows sample preparation via gas or liquid chromatography and is used to identify the sample’s precise components.
Blood chemistry analyzers can be used to check for harmful chemicals that might be present in a blood sample.
Immunoassays tests can be used to check for specific substance.
Search and compare forensic toxicology products: