How to Interpret a Toxicology Report

At death, along with an autopsy, toxicology is usually ordered. Toxicology is the study of poisons. Toxicology at the time of autopsy is for the purpose of studying what substances, usually drugs, were in a person’s system at the time of death. A toxicology report may contain a “screen,” which may be an immunoassay, which shows merely whether a substance is “on board” or in the person’s blood or tissue. The toxicology report usually contains more specific information also, about the concentration of the substance in the person’s blood or tissue. There is data that helps toxicologists know whether a certain concentration of a drug in a person’s blood or liver is at a lethal or toxic level. If you have a question about interpreting a toxicology report, and would like information about what a certain level of a drug means on a toxicology report, the lawyers at Overdose Law can email that information to you. www.overdoselaw.com