Toxicology Laboratory

Toxicologists

Forensic Toxicology Technician

  • Elizabeth Walker-Valle

The Montgomery County Coroner's Office Toxicology Laboratory is a regional laboratory that currently provides postmortem forensic toxicology services to 40 Ohio counties. The Toxicology Lab also provides human performance forensic toxicology services to approximately 100 police agencies in and around the Miami Valley as part of the Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab. The laboratory is staffed by six full-time forensic toxicologists and the chief forensic toxicologist. All members of the full-time staff hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree and most are members of the professional organization, the Society of Forensic Toxicologists. Staff members are licensed by the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Testing. The Toxicology laboratory is accredited by The American Society of Crime Lab Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board and the American Board of Forensic Toxicology. The laboratory has presented original research and case reports at the Society of Forensic Toxicologists, The Midwest Association for Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences annual meetings as well as published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology.

Specimen Requirements

Specimens should be collected with sodium fluoride and stored refrigerated when not in transport to the toxicology laboratory. The minimum volume for testing is three milliliters. For postmortem cases, we recommend collecting peripheral blood, central blood, urine and vitreous humor. For sexual assault cases, we recommend collecting blood and urine. For all other cases, blood or urine may be collected. Specimens should be labeled with donor's name and specimen type. Specimens may be hand delivered to the laboratory or sent via mail. If sending by mail, it is recommended to pack the samples with a coolant and send them by one-day shipping. Please contact the laboratory to obtain a requisition form that will serve as the start of chain of custody when completed.

Drugs Detected by Routine Testing

Learn what analytes are routinely detected by this laboratory, the limits of detection, the limits of quantitation, and the measurement uncertainty for quantitative analytes.

The legal statutes regarding testing in toxicology are located in the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code.

Standard Operating Procedures

Further information can be obtained at 937-225-4156.