Division of Criminal Justice Services

NYCLAC Report Standardization Project

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Toxicology

 

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Standardized Report Components

  1. Unique case identifier on each page of report (such as lab number)
  2. Title of the report (such as “report of laboratory analysis”)
  3. Identification of the laboratory
  4. Submitting Agency Info or at a minimum submitting agency
  5. List or explanation of items examined
  6. General indication of methodology utilized
  7. Results/conclusions
  8. Date report issued
  9. Signature and title of examiner (or electronic equivalent)
  10. Pagination of the report (example page 1 of 2 etc.)
  11. Statement regarding the report does not constitute the entire case file or equivalent
  12. Statement that definitions of terms used in the report can be located at the DCJS website and if applicable on the laboratory website or attached to report

Additional Discipline Specific Report Components:

  1. Unique case/sample identifier on each page
  2. Name of subject/defendant/victim/suspect/decedent
  3. Date submitted to or received by laboratory
  4. Samples submitted for toxicology
  5. Any positive ethanol result for a Vehicle and Traffic case must include an uncertainty of measurement statement (using k = 3 standard deviations,99.7% level of confidence).
  6. Forensically significant results that have not been confirmed will be clearly indicated as such.
  7. Where test results obtained from another laboratory are included in the report, the name of the reference laboratory must be clearly stated.
  8. When the contents of a tablet or capsule have been identified by a visual comparison only, the report must reflect that and must indicate that an analytical confirmation was not performed.

Standardized Language/Statements

Below is a list of standardized report language/statements. Not all laboratories will use these. These definitions refer only to use in a written report, and may have different meanings and interpretations when used in the case file material. They should be defined in the laboratory’s Standard Operating Procedure Manual (SOPM). They may also be defined on the report itself, or may be posted on the laboratory’s website. If using a website, care should be exercised to ensure that the statements are current. If a laboratory uses other unique or infrequent terminology (example: no result, presumptive positive, consistent with) then those terms should be defined in its report.

Due to the comprehensive nature of toxicology testing, it is not necessary to include the scope of testing on toxicology reports.

Positive/Present
Meets the laboratory’s criteria for reporting the presence of a particular analyte or class of compounds as defined in the laboratory’s SOPM.

Detected
Meets the laboratory’s criteria for reporting the presence of a particular analyte or class of compounds as defined in the laboratory’s SOPM. Differs from the term “positive” only in the context in which it is used.

Negative
No drug(s) identified within the scope of the testing method used and at the level of sensitivity of the method at the time the analysis was performed OR did not meet the criteria for reporting a positive as defined in the laboratory's SOPM. Used in the reporting of class screens such as immunoassays or screens that encompass large numbers of drugs.

None / Not Detected
No drug(s) identified within the scope of the testing method used and at the level of sensitivity of the method at the time the analysis was performed, OR did not meet the criteria for reporting a positive as defined in the laboratory's SOPM. Differs from the term "negative" only in the context in which it is used. Used in the reporting of results from quantitative analyses or screens with lists of analytes specifically tested for.

Confirmed
A second test was performed on a separate aliquot or sample using either two different methods or having at least one method that has sufficient specificity for definitive identification.


Confirmed By History
A drug has been identified using a method with sufficient specificity for definitive identification and corroborated through information contained in a pharmacy, medical or investigative record.

Unconfirmed
Confirmatory analysis was not performed.

Unsuitable for Analysis

Specimen related:
Cannot perform or complete the analysis due to the condition of the specimen (e.g., clotted, decomposed, oily, or improper, as in serum for COHb).

Analysis related:
Low internal standard, interference, ion ratio failure

Inconclusive
Testing was performed, but unable to obtain a valid result.

Interference
Testing was performed, but the laboratory was unable to obtain valid results due to the presence of other substances.

 

Standardized Terms & Definition

Abbreviations for analytical methods used:

  1. GC – Gas Chromatography
  2. FID – Flame Ionization Detection
  3. MS – Mass Spectrometry
  4. LC – Liquid Chromatography
  5. HPLC – High Performance (formerly High Pressure) Liquid Chromatography
  6. DAD – Diode Array Detection
  7. FTIR – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
  8. TLC – Thin Layer Chromatography
  9. IR – Infrared Spectroscopy
  10. UV/Vis – Ultraviolet/Visual Spectroscopy
  11. HS – Headspace
  12. IA – Immunoassay
  13. NPD – Nitrogen Phosphorus Detection
  14. ECD – Electron Capture Detection
  15. AA – Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry
  16. TOF – Time of Flight
  17. CT – Color Test
  18. CA – Chemistry Analyzer

Analytical instruments that use multiple technologies in tandem are indicated by through a combination of the abbreviations listed above, for example gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is abbreviated GCMS, GC/MS or GC-MS depending on the report software of the laboratory.

Amended Report
If used, this would indicate that there has been a correction to a previously issued report.

Preliminary Report
A report issued prior to the completion of all toxicology testing. If used, this term indicates that further testing results can be expected in subsequent report(s).

Supplemental Report
If used, this would indicate that other results have been previously reported.