ABSTRACT
One might reasonably ask, then, what exactly is forensic toxicology? A glib answer (though containing some truth) is that forensic toxicology is simply “toxicology done in a forensic manner.” It is not so much the sample or sample type that determines “forensic” status or not, but rather the purpose for which the analytical result will be used. Forensic toxicology analyses and results are dierentiated from similar testing done in a nonforensic setting by the degree of documentation, validation, and quality control that is routinely part of the forensic analytical process. Forensic analyses are performed with the expectation that they may be used as evidence in a legal forum and may therefore be challenged, from the adversarial perspective that characterizes our judicial system. In many cases, forensic laboratories are accredited, a process that provides a demonstrated level of performance and is increasingly expected of forensic laboratories. Ultimately, it is not only the analytical ndings, but the documentation of calibrators and controls, instrumental operating conditions, sample chain of custody, laboratory accreditation, etc., that allow a court (and the legal “other side”) to evaluate the credibility of the ndings.
