Toxicology
The mission of the University of Florida Forensic Toxicology Laboratory is three-fold:
- Investigation
- Consultation
- Education
Investigation
The primary mission of the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory is to support the Medical Examiner in the activity of investigating the cause and manner of death. In this regard, the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory provides comprehensive testing for the evaluation of the presence of poisons and/or exogenous chemicals (e.g., drugs and metabolites) in biological specimens provided as a function of the autopsy and/or inspection process. The findings are evaluated in order to determine what role, if any, they may have had in a given decedent's death.
The Forensic Toxicology Laboratory also performs analysis on a limited number of cases submitted by law enforcement agencies with the purpose of determining the absence or presence of ethanol and other drugs and evaluates their role in modifying human performance and/or behavior.
Consultation
Additionally, the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory provides guidance as to the nature and type of specimens to be collected, the amounts required, the circumstances under which collection should occur (case type, specimen preservation etc.), and chain-of-custody/security requirements.
The Director and the staff of the laboratory also act as consultants in providing advice and interpretation relative to the findings determined by the laboratory on the above noted specimens. This consultation is provided to the Medical Examiner professional staff on a case-by-case basis.
Education
Finally, it is the responsibility of the laboratory staff to serve as an educational resource within the Medical Examiner's office, by providing continuing education activities on current developments and advances within the field of Postmortem Forensic Toxicology.
Please contact Dr. Bruce Goldberger at (352) 265-0680 x72001 for additional information regarding UFDRL forensic toxicology services.