The Department of Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry is divided into two areas. Forensic Toxicology is concerned with determining the presence/level of alcohol, drugs and active drug ingredients – as well as poisons (xenobiotics) and alcohol consumption markers – in bodily fluids, organs and hair from living and dead persons. By contrast, Forensic Chemistry is concerned with investigating seizures of drugs and other chemicals, in order to identify narcotics or synthetic source materials, and examining residues of fire accelerants in cases of suspected arson. In addition to the laboratory service and the assessment-related activities in these areas, the other main focuses of the department are the development of new methods – particularly LC-MS/MS-based – and applied research. We are involved in clinical studies where alcohol consumption markers are used for diagnostic purposes and also other clinical studies requiring highly sensitive detection of xenobiotics in an organism. The emphasis here is on the analysis of bodily fluids and "alternative matrices" (oral fluid, hair, capillary blood, dried blood spots).
The services of the Department of Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry are used by clients at a regional, national and international level. Clients include judicial, police and customs authorities, as well as physicians in private practice, clinics, university institutions and insurance companies. Companies who have concluded an agreement with their employees in this respect can have us analyze samples as part of a workplace drug testing or working monitoring program. Orders from private individuals are not generally accepted.
Similar analytical methods as those involving living persons, albeit with a view to answering different questions and with additional investigative materials (postmortem):
Forensic chemical analysis of fire debris samples and other exhibits with a view to identifying fire accelerants