Name two common toxicology screening methods used in forensic labs.

Name two common toxicology screening methods used in forensic labs.

• A. Immunoassay screening and GC-MS or LC-MS confirmation.
• B. PCR and sequencing.
• C. Western blot and ELISA.
• D. Immunoassay only.

Answer: (A)

In forensic toxicology, a practical workflow combines speed with accuracy: start with an immunoassay screening because it’s rapid and can flag many drugs or their metabolites in a sample. To ensure definitive results, any findings from the screen are then confirmed with a more specific instrumental method like GC-MS or LC-MS. These mass spectrometry techniques separate compounds and provide precise identification and quantification, which reduces false positives from the screening and meets the rigorous standards for forensic evidence. Other options don’t fit this common pairing—PCR and sequencing are genetic techniques, and Western blot and ELISA are protein-focused tests that don’t describe the typical screening-plus-confirmation approach.

In forensic toxicology, a practical workflow combines speed with accuracy: start with an immunoassay screening because it’s rapid and can flag many drugs or their metabolites in a sample. To ensure definitive results, any findings from the screen are then confirmed with a more specific instrumental method like GC-MS or LC-MS. These mass spectrometry techniques separate compounds and provide precise identification and quantification, which reduces false positives from the screening and meets the rigorous standards for forensic evidence. Other options don’t fit this common pairing—PCR and sequencing are genetic techniques, and Western blot and ELISA are protein-focused tests that don’t describe the typical screening-plus-confirmation approach.