Last month, the National Institute of Justice released a knowledge-sharing brief by the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on the use of rapid toxicology screening tools in lieu of comprehensive, confirmatory investigations. According to the U.S. Drug Administration, the average turnaround time for traditional toxicology testing can last up to 31 days. However, contingent on case complexities, systemic issues, rising caseloads, and other unforeseen circumstances, delays often occur. To remedy these growing concerns, offices with larger caseloads have started investigating the use of in-house toxicology screening tools. This brief weighs the benefits, opportunities, realities, limitations, and reliability of rapid in-house toxicology tools in medical examiner/coroner offices.
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