Toxicology Testing Term Paper

Tags: health law technology alcohol crime abuse blood testing toxicology forensic evidence law enforcement history science

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Toxicology Testing

History in forensic science is referred to as application of science into law. The process came at a time when crime needed to be solved using sophisticated means, and institutions needed innovations in the field of science. Many techniques were adopted to determine level of toxins in people’s blood or fluids. It has helped identify harmful toxins that would otherwise not have been discovered. Toxicology testing refers to the methods used to determine toxic levels in samples. The process of toxicology testing includes collecting samples, testing the samples by use of special methods like chromatography, analyzing results and finally generating a toxicology report.

The process that leads up to the report is an important aspect for accurate results. This happens to be a highly sensitive area, so maximum cleanliness is required and sterilized materials need to be used. This form of testing is commonly used in police stations and hospital labs, to test for illicit substances and toxins in the blood and other body fluids respectively. In the case of law enforcement, they can use this as evidence if one is charged with ‘Driving under the Influence’, which is a traffic offence. In murder cases, DNA evidence can be used in court to prove a crime with an accuracy of 99.91%.

According to Lappas (2016), accused persons are always prosecuted when they are found with illicit substances in their blood stream. Toxins are porous materials, and just like germs, they penetrate the skin and into the human blood stream through the semi permeable membranes. When alcohol is ingested, its particles are absorbed into the blood stream through the capillaries in the stomach walls. Alcohol contains starch which is stored as fats in the fatty glands and the toxins remaining are passed onto the liver for processing. This is why the liver is always affected by toxins since it works to get rid of toxins from the body.

Forensic toxicology aims to determine toxins in samples especially blood, tissues or urine samples. In a court case, forensic evidence can be used to prosecute or vindicate a defendant. The law allows for forensic evidence to be used in public court if the case is of a sensitive nature. In the case of a drunken driver case, the alcohol blood level is always tested to determine whether the accused’s blood was above or below the required limit to drive.

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The accuracy of forensic evidence makes it easier for prosecutors since there is 98% chance of beating forensic evidence in a case in court. The Federal Bureau of Investigation uses the forensic evidence to prosecute people thus a success rate in their convictions. Forensic toxicology was adopted in the 1970s as a way to improve testing samples in labs, law enforcement, sports and employment recruitment processes. In sports, toxicology testing is taken seriously when an athlete ingests supplements and always leads to suspension from the sport or a hefty monetary fine Wells & Peter (2016).

Generating a toxicology…

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…toxins in the samples and making recommendations on a treatment plan. A toxicology report is an important aspect of determining the level of toxins in someone’s blood or urine.

There is need to generate the report quickly through screening if the case is sensitive, but further testing is always required to determine qualitative and quantitative data on the correct amount of toxins. Quick screening does not guarantee accurate results, but the combination of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry guarantees the qualitative and quantitative techniques are applied to get the correct percentage of toxins in any given sample. The new methods adopted by anti-doping institutions help improve the accuracy of toxic detection since there are new substances in the world that are hard to detect, but with the right technology and deployment, they are detected.

In summary, forensic technology helps a lot of institutions with accountability and determining toxins in the body. Toxicology has enabled innovations in testing and development of ways to ensure that new toxins in the blood are detected early and treated. Most of the tests are new but effective in detecting toxins and amino acids that may be harmful to one’s health. Doctors, law enforcement officers and lab technicians are at the forefront of ensuring that the equipment, the testing process and the overall results are valid and accurate.


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References

Giffords Law Center. (2019). California. Retrieved April 30, 2019, from Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence website:
https://lawcenter.giffords.org/gun-laws/state-law/california/

Siegel, M., & Boine, C. (2019). What Are The Most Effective Policies In Reducing Gun Homicides? 44.

Towers, S., Gomez-Lievano, A., Khan, M., Mubayi, A., & Castillo-Chavez, C. (2015). Contagion in Mass Killings and School Shootings. PLOS ONE, 10(7), e0117259. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117259

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