Toxicology Analysis

The majority of the work carried out in the Toxicology section of FSI involves the analysis of blood and urine samples taken from complainants of alleged sexual assault. Sexual assault carried out when an individual is not capable of informed consent due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs is commonly called “Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA)”.

DFSA can be classified as:

• Proactive (where the assault occurs following covert or forcible administration of alcohol or drugs) or:
• Opportunistic (where the assault occurs after the injured party is profoundly intoxicated through consumption of alcohol or drugs).

Many of the drugs detected in the toxicology casework of FSI can be consumed voluntarily, and toxicology findings can’t distinguish between intentional and unintentional consumption. People also vary widely in their individual tolerance to alcohol/different drugs. Therefore toxicology findings in cases of alleged sexual assault should only be considered as one part of the entire case circumstances.

The most common drugs detected in cases of alleged sexual assault are:

• Alcohol
• Cocaine (and metabolites)
• Cannabis/cannabis products (and metabolites)
• Diazepam (and metabolites)
• Alprazolam

Less commonly encountered casework types also carried out by the Toxicology team include, but is not limited to:

• the analysis of blood and/or urine samples taken from suspects in criminal cases e.g. alleged sexual assault, assault, murder
• the analysis of blood and/or urine samples taken from complainants of alleged poisoning
• the analysis of suspect non-biological liquid for the presence of alcohol

Scientists in the Toxicology section hold membership of the United Kingdom and Ireland Association of Forensic Toxicologists (UKIAFT) and The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT).