Toxicology

The  Toxicology Laboratory of the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office provides testing of toxicology samples from all sudden, violent and suspicious deaths occurring in Jefferson and surrounding parishes. The laboratory provides drug, ethanol and carbon monoxide testing for medico-legal purposes.

Testing is primarily done on blood, urine and vitreous; however, other biological materials/tissues can be tested.

The following drugs/classes are routinely tested:

• Amphetamines
• Methamphetamines
• THC (marijuana)
• Cocaine
• Barbiturates
• Benzodiazepines
• Opiates
• PCP
• Tricyclic Antidepressants
• Carisoprodol
• Propoxyphene
• Methadone

If the JPCO lab cannot test for a specific drug or if the autopsy pathologist requests a quantitation, the specimen will be sent out to a reference laboratory.