1: Intro to Toxicology and Specimen Handling Flashcards
The first forensic toxicologist in the United States is believed to have been:
A. Gettler
The first text written on the subject of forensic toxicology was contributed by:
M. Orfilla
All of the following are physiological effects of THC except:
Tachycardia
Reddening of the conjunctivae
Increased aggressiveness
Increased reaction time
Increased aggressiveness
The saying, “The dose makes the poison” is attributed to:
Paracelsus
In a suspected chronic poisoning, the best single specimen for elucidation of the role of heavy metals is:
Urine
Synovial fluid
Hair
Whole blood
Serum
Hair
Sodium fluoride has been found effective as a preservative when present in whole blood at a concentration of:
1.0%
This collection container does not contain any preservative or anticoagulant:
Red
Impairment should not be established from a drug concentration in isolation of other information including the outcome of standardized field sobriety tests.
True False
True
The effects of an inhalant such as difluoroethane progress from euphoria and altered perception to complete loss of consciousness.
True False
True
Dilated pupils are an indication that a person is under the influence of a narcotic analgesic and constricted pupils are an indication that a person is under the influence of a stimulant.
True False
False
Alcohol acts at inhibitory neurons in the brain; it produces HGN.
True False
True
Plasma collection containers do not have an anticoagulant.
True False
False
In regard to a DRE evaluation there are eight drug classes.
True False
False
There are 7: CNS depressants, CNS stimulants, hallucinogens, inhalants, PCP, Narcotic Analgesics, Cannabis
Blood has these four main components:
Plasma, Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells and Platelets
The most abundant cells in the blood, accounting for up to 45% of its volume are:
Red Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells contain a protein called ___________ which helps carry ___________ from the lungs to the rest of the body and then returns carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs so it can be exhaled.
Hemoglobin/Oxygen
___________ contains a clotting protein called fibrinogen.
Plasma
Serum
Plasma (think plasma = protein)
When a urine sample contains a substance that is not a normal constituent or containing an endogenous substance at a concentration that is not a normal physiological concentration, this is:
Adulterated
When a urine sample has creatinine and specific gravity values that are lower than expected, this is:
Dilute
After oral ingestion of alcohol, the largest portion of the dose is generally absorbed from the:
Small Intestine
When death occurs five hours as a result of tricyclic antidepressant overdose, the highest concentration of drug would be expected to be found in:
Hair
Blood
Muscle
Liver
Liver
Site- and time-related blood drug concentration variations after death is referred to as:
Postmortem redistribution
The most appropriate collection container to use for trace metal analysis is:
Royal Blue Top Tube
When blood is unavailable and carboxyhemoglobin testing is required the next best specimen to use is:
Spleen
What can be used to estimate a person’s blood alcohol concentration:
Widmark Formula
These substances displace oxygen:
Inhalents
This substance is endogenously produced and cleared from the body by the kidneys:
Creatinine
Under SAMHSA guidelines, this is measured if the creatinine level is
< 20 mg/dL:
pH
Specific Gravity
Creatinine
Color (pigment content)
Specific Gravity
Under SAMHSA guidelines, a test result may be “Rejected for Testing” due to:
The presence of glutaraldehyde
Abnormal physical characteristics
A Fatal Flaw
Abnormal pH
Immunoassay interference
A Fatal Flaw
A specimen that contains an unidentified adulterant, or an unknown interfering substance, or has abnormal physical characteristics, or has an endogenous substance at an abnormal concentration that prevents the lab from obtaining a valid drug test result is reported by the laboratory as:
Rejected for testing
Substituted
Adulterated
Invalid
Cancelled
Invalid
The two major set of rules that govern the practice of drug testing in the Federal Workplace and in that regulated by the Department of Transportation are:
HHS Guidelines and CFR Part 40
This publication is from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences:
Journal of Forensic Sciences
Grey Top tubes contain:
1 % sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate