Analytical toxicology
Our Analytical Toxicology Laboratory analyses biological fluids and forensic exhibits for drugs and poisons.
Analytical Toxicology Laboratory
Our Analytical Toxicology Laboratory analyses biological fluids for drugs of abuse, pharmaceutical drugs, and common poisons, through the work of our two units: the Clinical & Forensic Toxicology Unit and the Drug Abuse Testing Unit.
Our laboratory has achieved accreditation status since 1996, and is currently accredited under the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) ISO/IEC 17025 Forensic Testing programme.
We are also equipped with advanced analytical instrumentations and use robust testing methods to serve the administration of justice. We conduct ongoing research and development to keep up with changing drug trends.
Clinical & Forensic Toxicology
Scope of services
Our Clinical & Forensic Toxicology unit provides wide scope analysis of drugs and poisons in biological specimens and forensic exhibits. We support healthcare professionals, coroners, law enforcement agencies, legal practitioners, and occupational health services.
Our Services:
Clinical Toxicology – Emergency and routine analysis for suspected drug overdose and poisoning cases, supporting medical diagnosis and patient treatment.
Postmortem Toxicology – Determination of whether alcohol, drugs, or poisons contributed to death, assisting coronial investigations.
Forensic Toxicology – Analysis of alcohol and drugs involvement in driving under the influence (DUI) cases and in drug-facilitated crimes, including sexual assault and theft.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring – Measurement of medications levels, such as clozapine, levetiracetam, and flecainide, to optimise therapeutic outcomes.
Drug screening for brain-death certification - Toxicological screening to exclude reversible toxicological causes during brain-death assessment.
Forensic exhibit analysis – Analysis of suspected drugs, poisons, and unknown substances in seized materials and other exhibits to establish links to criminal or poisoning incidents
Occupational Monitoring – Biological testing for workplace exposure to hazardous substances, including cyanide and toluene, to support occupational health and safety compliance.
Drug Abuse Testing
Our Drug Abuse Testing unit analyses urine and hair specimens for the presence of controlled drugs. Our work supports the Misuse of Drugs Act. The panel of drugs tested include:
Amphetamines
Benzodiazepines
Cannabis
Cocaine
Ketamine
Opiates
New psychoactive substances and others
