The ABFT laboratory accreditation program is designed for forensic scientists, forensic scientists, police, private laboratories and others who perform post-mortem toxicology and so-called human performance toxicology (human performance toxicology includes areas such as the detection and measurement of drugs in drivers and other vehicle drivers, and drug-assisted sexual assault and similar testing). It is the only program designed and conducted specifically for laboratories performing large-scale forensic toxicology, and is based on the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory Guidelines, first published jointly in 1991 by the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) and the Toxicology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). The ABFT program was first offered in 1996 and has grown slowly since then, with a total of 35 accredited laboratories at the time of writing. In order to maintain accreditation, laboratories must undergo an on-site inspection every 2 years and provide copies of all relevant proficiency test results each year. The checklist includes 123 standards for laboratory management, personnel, chain of custody and security, standard operating procedures, quality assurance and control, reporting and security, as well as specific sections on all major analytical techniques. As of 2013, all standards must be met prior to accreditation or re-accreditation. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a widely used analytical technique for the detection of volatile compounds. The most commonly used ionization techniques in forensic toxicology include electron ionization (EI) or chemical ionization (CI), with EI preferred in forensic analysis due to its detailed mass spectra and large spectral library. However, chemical ionization may provide greater sensitivity to certain compounds with high electron affinity.
[16] There are career opportunities for forensic toxicologists in academic and private forensic laboratories, as well as in departments specializing in hospital medicine. With so many different types of legal cases, forensic toxicology can present a variety of scientific challenges. Forensic toxicology is often treated differently in colleges and universities. As such, forensic toxicology programs can be found in the departments of Criminal Justice, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Health Sciences, Pharmacology, and Physiological Sciences. Detection of drugs and pharmaceuticals in biological samples is usually done through initial screening and subsequent confirmation of the compound(s), which may include quantification of the compound(s). Screening and confirmation are usually, but not necessarily, performed using different analytical methods. Any analytical method used in forensic toxicology must be thoroughly tested by performing method validation to ensure correct and indisputable results at all times. The choice of test method is highly dependent on the type of substance expected to be found and the material on which the test is performed. [15] A classification system is commonly used that divides poisons into categories such as: corrosive, gas and volatile, metallic poisons, non-volatile organic agents and miscellaneous.
[2] Forensic toxicology is defined as the determination of drug use, poisoning or exposure to toxic substances in the course of a judicial investigation. The field of forensic toxicology has expanded to include drug and alcohol testing for employers and transportation agencies, as well as animal samples for wildlife detectives and testing for date rape drugs and performance-enhancing substances. A forensic toxicologist usually has a bachelor`s degree in chemistry, clinical chemistry, pharmacology, or another scientific field. Some universities now offer master`s and doctoral degrees in forensic toxicology. Be sure to choose a bachelor`s or master`s degree program in forensic science accredited by the Commission d`accreditation des programmes d`enseignement des sciences judiciaires (FEPAC). Blood is considered one of the most important samples in forensic toxicology, and it is recommended to take samples of the heart and limbs in autopsy cases, as trauma or the diffusion of drugs through the tissues can contaminate the sample. Forensic toxicology is the application of toxicology in the field of law. The discipline continues to thrive due to human fascination with poisons, their effects on living organisms, detection in human remains, and the role of toxicology in court cases.
Post-mortem toxicology, forensic drug testing, and human performance toxicology are currently the three main subdivisions of the discipline. Forensic toxicology investigations begin with the fundamental and critical requirement to take an appropriate sample. In addition, an appropriate scientific technique must be used to analyze the sample. Forensic toxicologists must be familiar with a wide range of chemical substances and use the knowledge of other basic scientific disciplines and the collaboration of other professionals to answer questions related to death, illness or other areas where a poison or drug is suspected.