Forensic: Toxicology

Acute poisoning is due to a

high dose over a short period of time.

Alcohol excreted by the body is unchanged in

breath, urine, and perspiration.

Acute poisoning is due to a

high dose over a short period of time.

Alcohol excreted by the body is unchanged in

breath, urine, and perspiration.

Anabolic steroids promote

cell and tissue growth and division.

Asphyxia (suffocation) resulting from oxygen being replaced in the hemoglobin is a consequence of

carbon monoxide poisoning.

Caffeine, amphetamine, and cocaine are examples of

stimulants.

Controlled substances are

legal drugs whose sale, possession, and use are restricted because of the

mind-altering effect of the drugs and the potential for abuse.

Drugs deemed to have the highest potential for abuse are listed as

Schedule I of the Controlled

Substances Act

During Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer a chemical

is vaporized to analyze the chemical as a

gas

Elimination

involves the process of oxidizing alcohol in the liver and excreting alcohol in urine, breath,

and perspiration

GC/MS (Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry)

allows for both separation and specific

identification of a questioned mixture of substances

Hallucinogens are

often derived from plants.

Immunoassay

test that is based on specific drug-antibody reactions, that is best for detecting low drug

levels

Narcotics act as a

pain suppressant.

Positive control is a

sample prepared by the toxicologist which has a specific chemical present

Potassium chloride

causes death by affecting the heart's ability to send electrical signals

Sedative -

medication that will enhance the effect of alcohol

Stimulants

increase feelings of energy and alertness, while suppressing appetite.

The "walk and turn" test, horizontal gaze nystagmus, and the "one-leg stand" test

may be given by a

police officer to an individual suspected of being under the influence of alcohol

The confirmation test of choice for drugs in forensic toxicology is

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The current percentage of blood alcohol concentration necessary to consider a person intoxicated is

0.08%

The liver does

most of the breakdown of alcohol in the body

The penalty for a 19 year old pulled over with a blood alcohol level of 0.03%, if convicted, is

loss or

postponement of driving privileges 30 to 90 days and participation in an alcohol and traffic safety

education program.

The rate of alcohol absorption on a full stomach is less than

the rate of absorption on an empty

stomach.

The ratio of alcohol in the blood to alcohol in alveoli air is approximately

2,100:1

Thin layer chromatography

uses both a moving liquid and a solid phase

Tolerance -

A condition that occurs when the body gets used to a medicine so that either more medicine

is needed or different medicine is needed.

When collecting blood evidence, one must

utilize a preservative when possible, clean the area with a

nonalcoholic disinfectant after collection, and keep the sample refrigerated.