Toxicology, Drugs and Poisons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Toxicology, Drugs and Poisons - Essay Example The acidic poisons and drugs can easily be isolated from the acidic solution while the basic drugs and poisons are easily extracted from the basic solution. After completing the procedure, the poison and drugs are isolated, the isolated samples are then screened and confirmed thereafter. Other techniques that are discussed in the paper include color testing, immunoassay testing, gas chromatography and microcrystalline testing. Determination of quality of drugs or poison is done through extraction and isolation of the substance from body fluids and tissues. The techniques used in identification include color testing, immunoassay testing, gas chromatography and microcrystalline testing. Color testing is a technique simply used in a determination of an individual content of drug or poison in the system. The technique mainly identifies the type of drug or poisons present in the person and do not indicate the quantity of the suspected substance in the individual’s body. Toxicologist always carries out confirmation test after color testing for surety (Flanagan, Perrett and Whelpton, 2005). When the test is done in a urine sample, a small strip used for the test is dipped in the urine sample and is expected to change to a specific color. In other tests, chemical substances are combined with a sample that is already isolated. Changes in color due to the reactions indicate the presence of certain drugs or p oison in the sample (Haley and Berndt, 2007). Microcrystalline testing involves combining a given amount of isolated sample with a specifically known chemical reagent. In the presence of a drug or poison, a chemical reaction will occur producing a precipitate. The precipitate structure and color varies with respect to the drug or poison that is tested. The precipitate that is formed can then be screened or viewed under a microscope for identity confirmation (Bell, 2009).