This presentation will introduce attorneys to the basics of toxicology testing in the three most commonly used testing matrices: urine, hair, and blood/serum. Different matrices provide different information about substance use.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Identify the test type and matrix used in discovery.
• Understand the difference between qualitative vs quantitative testing.
• Understand screening, confirmation, and cut-off levels.
• Learn what detection time frame is provided by the three common test types.
• Learn what information a given test type can provide regarding impairment/under the influence.
Presented by Dr. Jennifer Souders
Dr. Souders is a physician (M.D.) who is Board Certified in Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine, and Addiction Medicine. As a consultant in forensic/legal cases, her main area of focus involves the clinical toxicology of prescription medications, recreational drugs and substances of abuse, marijuana/cannabis, and alcohol. Her training and education include the interpretation of clinical and forensic toxicology test results in multiple matrices, including blood, urine, serum, hair, and nails. In addition, her training and education include safe opioid prescribing procedures, interpretation of prescribing records, assessment of patient responses to prescribed opioids, and overdose prevention education and practices. Unlike non-physicians who review toxicology test results in forensic cases, as a clinician, she is able to read, interpret, and testify on the contents of medical records. She understands that the presence of a positive test result does not necessarily constitute the presence of impairment or observable effects from the substance(s) detected, nor does it indicate a diagnosis of substance use disorder. Impairment includes the physical and behavioral effects of the substance(s) in the context of use and in consideration of other potentially confounding medical conditions. Interpretation of these complex cases requires the consideration of the specifics of each case, supported by generally accepted medical and scientific knowledge. https://www.seakexperts.com/members/16659-jennifer-e-souders
Northwest Medical Experts is a local provider of forensic medical evaluation services for litigators and casualty adjusters in the Pacific Northwest since 2008.
