NLCL

FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY

The Forensic Toxicology Section offers analytical services for medicolegal death investigations (postmortem analysis), cases of driving while intoxicated (DWI) by alcohol and/or drugs, and various investigations in support of medical examiners, law enforcement agencies, the justice system, and other clients.

The NLCL Laboratory staff employs a broad range of advanced instrumental techniques in their casework, including:

  1. Immunoassay - ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is a popular biochemical technique used primarily in immunology to detect the presence and quantify specific drug antibodies and antigens. 

  2. Headspace Gas Chromatography – Flame Ionization Detection (Headspace GC/FID) – Detects ethanol and  other volatile substances

  3. Liquid Chromatography – Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (LC/TOF-MS) – Screens for routine and novel drugs of abuse

  4. Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) – Screens, confirms and quantifies drugs and their metabolites

Our Services

  • Blood Alcohol & Volatiles Analysis

  • Urine Alcohol & Volatiles Analysis

  • Blood Drug Analysis (Qualitative)

  • Blood Drug Analysis (Quantitative)

  • Urine Drug Analysis (Qualitative)

For Toxicology-Specific questions

Section Forms

Evidence Submission & Reporting

Scope of Testing

  • Forensic Toxicology Section Supervisor

    Master of Science (Veterinary Medical Sciences) - University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)

    Graduate Certificate (Forensic Toxicology) - University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)

    Bachelor of Science (Forensic Science) - Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond, KY)

  • Senior Forensic Scientist

    Master of Science (Forensic Science) - University of Alabama, Birmingham (Birmingham, AL)

    Bachelor of Science (Toxicology) - University of Louisiana, Monroe (Monroe, LA)

  • Forensic Scientist I

    Master of Science (Forensic Science) - Stevenson University (Owings Mills, MD)

    Graduate Certificate (Crime Scene Investigation) - Stevenson University (Owings, Mills, MD)

    Bachelor of Science (Toxicology) - University of Louisiana, Monroe (Monroe, LA)