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Casework Services: Toxicology
General
Body tissues and fluids are analysed for the presence of poisons, drugs and other chemicals in forensic toxicology. We review Crown analyses and will check on their interpretation, whether any other drugs could have produced the same analytical results and whether a defendant's history of drug/alcohol abuse could have an effect.
We also review drug-drive cases regarding the results of blood/urine analyses; preliminary impairment tests; results reported by the medical examiner and the defendant's indicated pattern of drug use in the previous 24 hours.
Alcohol
Common charges in relation to this area of expertise are 'driving with excess alcohol' and being 'drunk in charge of a motor vehicle'. We undertake relevant blood/breath/urine alcohol calculations, including 'back' calculations.
We will consider the breath testing, blood and urine collection procedures; the functioning of the main breath testing devices, the effects of storage on samples and their handling by the Crown laboratory, the interpretation of breath test printouts, and blood/urine alcohol analyses.
We can also arrange for analysis of the defendant's portion of a blood/urine sample and interpret the difference between the Crown's result and the defendant's analytical result, if required.
We regularly provide reports in cases of Failing to Provide relevant specimens (whether breath, blood or urine) which would include review of all relevant documentation including:
- results of spirometry (lung function) tests;
- breath requirements of hand-held roadside breath screening devices;
- breath requirements of police station evidential breath testing devices.