STATE OF CONNECTICUT FORENSIC LAB
TO BEGIN POST MORTEM
TOXICOLOGY TESTING
(Middletown, CT)-The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection today announced that effective immediately, the Division of Scientific Services Forensic Lab will begin providing post mortem toxicology testing and analysis on homicides, motor vehicle accidents, and upon request, traumatic suicides. This service change developed as a response to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s May 31 announcement that effective June 15, 2016, the OCME would no longer conduct toxicology testing on deaths clearly due to trauma, including homicides, most suicides, and motor vehicle deaths. The service change was put into place so that law enforcement and judicial agencies that require toxicology test results would not experience a disruption in service.
“Toxicology results are integral to understanding the circumstances of death even if they do not impact the cause of death,” said Commissioner Dora B. Schriro. “They are critical to closing criminal investigations and to judicial proceedings, often serving as exculpatory evidence for the defense. I would like to thank Dr. Vallaro, Dr. Gill, and all of the parties involved for their hard work in coming to a resolution on this important issue. As we all grapple to make the most of our new economic reality, this is a terrific example of state and local agencies working together to achieve efficiencies.”
The DSS Forensic Lab is accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD).
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