Mission
To help determine the cause of manner of death by examining autopsy specimens for the presence and quantity of drugs and/or poisons.
What we do
- Identify and quantify drugs and poisons in biological fluids to provide critical information for the investigations conducted by the Office of the State Medical Examiners.
- Provide driver fatality statistics for the National Highway Traffic Safety Board’s use in driver safety initiatives and awareness campaigns.
- Identify emerging illicit and designer drugs which can lead to overdose epidemics.
Accomplishments
- Validated and implemented the following new methods to enhance previous procedures:
- Enhanced method for cannabinoids with new compounds added, including CBD
- Improved method for 27 antidepressants and over-the-counter drugs
- New method for 17 central nervous depressants (sedatives, sleeping agents, muscle relaxants)
- Improved method for 27 antidepressants and over-the -counter drugs (2020)