Our laboratory provides analysis, detection, identification, measurement and interpretation of drug, alcohol, poisons and other substances in human samples for a number of clients throughout Queensland including the Coroners Court of Queensland and the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
The laboratory analyses blood, urine and other biological specimens to confirm or eliminate the possibility that these substances may have contributed to an accident or death, impairment of behaviour or a criminal offence.
See below for examples of the publications by staff within the forensic toxicology team.
Garland J, Thompson M, Ondruschka B, Da Broi U, Tse R. (2024). Regional variations in left ventricular myocyte diameter and nuclear length in post mortem population: implications in assessing myocyte hypertrophy. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences. DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2024.2354206
Martin J, Gadsby Z, Jeremic P, Thompson M, Tse R. (2024). Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is a reliable reproducible and accurate method in measuring body length. Pathology, 56(Supplement 1). DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2023.12.312
Isoardi KZ, Roberts DM, Holford AG, Brown JA, Griffiths A, Soderstrom J, McDonald C, Gerostamoulos D, Sakrajda P, Turner C, Yates H, Gunja N, Greene S, (2023). A cluster of acute thebaine poisonings from non-food grade poppy seeds in the Australian food supply. Clinical Toxicology. DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2023.2265053
Blakey K, Thompson A, Matheson A, Griffiths A, (2021). What's in fake 'Xanax'?: A dosage survey of designer benzodiazepines in counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets? Drug Testing and Analysis. DOI: 10.1002/dta.3119
Griffiths A, Milne N, Ong BB, Watkins T (2021) 2,4-Dinitrophenol overdose - everything old is new again. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 79: 102148. DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2021.102148
Thompson A, Morey S, Griffiths A, (2020). Pregabalin and its involvement in coronial cases. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkz041
Below are some examples of publications by staff within Forensic pathology at Forensic and Scientific Services.
Perkins H, Hughes T, Forrest A, Higgins D. (2024). 3D dental records in Australian dental practice - a hidden gold mine for forensic identification. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences. DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2024.2359432
Kov S, Ong B, Milne N, Taheri T. (2024). Post-mortem diagnosis of laryngeal sarcoidosis in an adolescent patient: a case report. Pathology. DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2023.12.310
Gadsby Z, Martin J, Thompson M, Ondruschka B, Da Broi U, Tse R, (2023). Cardiac dimensions measured from post-mortem photographs: are they accurate? Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences. DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2023.2283414
Thompson I, Olumbe A, Tse R, Thompson M, (2023). The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on drug and poison-related deaths in Gold Coast, Australia. DOI: 10.1007/s12024-022-00555-5
Garland J, Thompson M, Ondruschka B, Da Broi U, Thompson I, Olumbe Al, Tse R, (2023). Gross heart dimensions from postmortem computed tomography and postmortem examination measurements: Heart weight and cardiac hypertrophy. American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000846
Thompson I, Gadsby Z, Martin J, Thompson M, Tse R, (2023). Gabapentinoid detection in coronial casework in Gold Coast, Australia: a 5-year retrospective study. Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology. DOI: 10.1007/s12024-023-00694-3
Gounden S, Thompson M, Olumbe AK. (2022). Quadriscuspid aortic valve with mitral valve prolapse and regurgitation presenting with sudden cardiac death - a case report and review of the literature. Pathology. DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2021.12.224
Gounden S, Tin K, Lam AK, Olumbe AK. (2020) Rare occurrence of cerebral metastases in a young female with adrenocortical carcinoma: forensic presentation. Pathology. 52 (s.1): S103. DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2020.01.352