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Forensic Toxicology
Forensic toxicology at the University of Glasgow is recognised nationally and internationally as a long-standing centre of excellence. The 50th anniversary of forensic toxicology in Glasgow was celebrated in 2009 with an internationally-attended conference. More recently, the laboratory achieved UKAS accreditation to the ISO 17025:2005 quality standard.
Forensic toxicology shared in the award of a contract to the University in 2006 by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for Scotland, to provide a forensic toxicology service for post mortem cases in the west of Scotland. This involves approximately 1600 cases each year.
This work for the Crown Office (the public prosecution service for Scotland) represents the majority of the toxicology caseload. However, the five consultant forensic toxicologists maintain professional independence and provide services to other clients, including defendants seeking independent toxicological analyses and businesses requiring workplace drug testing. The toxicologists also provide expert witness testimony in court.
The service is located in modern laboratories equipped with up-to-date GC-MS and LC-MS/MS instrumentation. Many different types of biological materials are analysed, including conventional blood and urine specimens but also “alternative” samples such as hair and oral fluid. Interest in these alternatives has increased over recent years because of the additional information they can provide for medicolegal investigations.
The range of substances analysed is extensive, as anything is capable of acting as a poison. Most commonly detected are alcohol, prescribed drugs and illicit drugs but non-drug materials are also encountered, such as pesticides, solvents, gases and metals. Patterns of poisoning change with time and the toxicology service constantly adapts to the arrival of new drugs and other substances in the region.
The service provides valuable case study material that underpins undergraduate and graduate teaching. Service work also initiates many research projects and benefits from the new methods and data that are obtained.