Biomed

Forensic Autopsy

Required to determine cause and manner of death, especially in sudden, unexpected, or suspicious cases.

Diagnostic Test Selection

Beneficial to know patient’s medical history, symptoms, and clinical information to reduce false positives.

Pharmacogenomics

Study of how genes influence response to drugs, combining pharmacology and genomics for tailored medications.

SOP

Standard Operating Procedure.

External Examination

Initial step in forensic autopsy, examining body’s physical characteristics, marks, injuries, or diseases.

Toxicological Analysis

Used if victim is suspected of being poisoned, testing body fluids and tissues for toxins or drugs.

Mortis

Latin term meaning “of death”.

Importance of SOP

Crucial for accuracy, consistency, reliability, quality control, and safety in diagnostic tests.

Calling Authorities

Police should be called if a body is found to secure the scene and initiate an investigation.

Forensic Anthropologist

Called for analyzing partial skeletons to determine age, sex, stature, and cause of death.

Centrifuge

Used to separate sample components based on densities by spinning at high speed.

Forensic Toxicologist

Tests tissue samples and body fluids from autopsies to determine poisoning.

Livor Mortis

Postmortem lividity, helps determine death position by blood pooling due to gravity.

Rapid Diagnostic Tests

Examples include pregnancy tests, glucose tests, and rapid strep tests.

CLIA

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 for technical standards and guidelines.

Stomach Contents

Useful in autopsies for last meal information and estimating time of death.

Hair Root

Contains DNA for genetic testing and information on drug use or toxin exposure.

Rigor Mortis

Body stiffening typically observed between two to six hours after death.

Pelvis Width

Helps determine biological sex in forensic anthropology.

Rigor

Latin term for stiffness.

Ossification

Used to determine the age of an individual at the time of death.

Chromosomes

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes.

Noninvasive Monitoring

Ultrasound and x-ray are noninvasive methods for disease monitoring.

Hair Samples Limitation

Provides long-term substance use information, not suitable for recent use or extensive DNA.

GINA

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act allows knowing inherited traits without discrimination risk.

Detective Scenario

Rigid face and upper arms suggest death occurred approximately 12-24 hours ago.

FDA

Regulates home medical tests.

Urine Sample Inspection

Involves visual examination, chemical analysis, and microscopic examination.

Reference Range

Set of values to interpret lab results for normality.

Karyotyping

Technique for examining an organism’s chromosome set.

Culture and Sensitivity Tests

Determine the best antibiotic for treating infections by growing microorganisms.

Autopsy and Religious Beliefs

Autopsy may be performed against family wishes in sudden, suspicious, or criminal deaths.

Forensic Entomologist

Contacted to analyze eggs or larvae on a body for time of death estimation.

CLIA Impact

Ensures proper training, instrument calibration, and accurate tests.

Medical Examiner

Typically a forensic pathologist specializing in disease and injury study in the deceased.

Patient Identification

Barcodes, bracelets, and personal information improve patient identification.

Least Invasive Sample

Hair is the least invasive sample for a toxicology report.

Rapid Diagnostic Tests

Used in rural settings where lab testing is limited.

Matching Careers