Quality assurance in forensic toxicological analysis

Abstract

In this paper, we review the work done in forensic toxicological analysis during about the last 30 years in Europe and to some extent in other parts of the world to assure the quality of toxicological investigations. Guidelines for carrying out toxicological analyses set up by professional bodies in the United States (AAFS/SOFT), Europe (GTFCh) and worldwide (TIAFT) are mentioned, and the problems of complying with the regulations set up in EN 45 000/ISO 9000 are discussed in detail. There are still diverging opinions as to whether toxicological laboratories should comply with good laboratory practice or with EN 45 000, and, as fas as Germany, Switzerland and Austria are concerned, a working group of the GTFCh is discussing which procedure should be adopted. Apart from having this discussion, the group aims to standardize suitable methods and is planning the organization of suitable round robins.