Government Laboratory
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Forensic Toxicology Sections
For effective casework management, the Forensic Toxicology Sections are split into Analytical Toxicology, Urinalysis, and Drink-Driving Units, each with its distinctive functions.
The Analytical toxicology Unit examines biological materials (mostly ante- or post-mortem specimens of human origin) such as blood, urine and liver, as well as related materials found at scenes for drugs or poisons. The findings assist the Coroners, Forensic Pathologists of the Department of Health, Clinical pathologists of the Hospital Authority and the Police Force in the investigation of criminal offences and suspicious deaths where drugs or poisons are implicated.
The Urinalysis Unit analyses urine samples submitted by methadone clinics of the Department of Health from drug addicts registered in the Methadone Maintenance Programme. It is also responsible for the analysis of opiate and non-opiate drugs of abuse in urine samples submitted by the Social Welfare Department, the Correctional Services Department, the Police Force and other drug rehabilitation centres, taken from young offenders placed under their monitoring programmes.
The Drink Driving Unit was set up in December 1995 as a result of changes to the Road Traffic Ordinance enacted at that time to make it an offence to drive with alcohol in breath, blood or urine exceeding the corresponding statutory limits. Effective from 1st October 1999, the Road Traffic Ordinance has been revised and tightened to make it an offence to drive with greater than 22 microgrammes (ug) of alcohol per 100 mL of breath, 50 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 mL of blood, or 67 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 mL of urine. Drivers found to have 22-37 ug/100 mL of breath alcohol as tested by police using approved breathalyser have the option of having their blood or urine samples analysed by the Unit for alcohol content instead of just accepting the breathalyser results.
The three units also provide expert advice to clients and courts on an as-need basis on issues of pharmacology and toxicology of drugs and alcohol.
Forensic Toxicology A Section
| Senior Chemist and Chemist (E-mail address) |
Tel. No. |
Dr. C K Li, Senior Chemist |
2762-3819 |
| Dr. W S Lee, Chemist (wslee@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3831 |
Mr. David T W Wong, Chemist |
2762-3821 |
Forensic Toxicology B Section
| Senior Chemist and Chemist (E-mail address) |
Tel. No. |
| Mr. C W Lee, Senior Chemist (cwlee@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3827 |
| Ms. Florence S Y Chan, Chemist (syfchan@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3823 |
| Dr. J L C Chim, Chemist (joycechim@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3820 |
| Dr. Janesse W S Hui, Chemist (janessehui@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3820 |
| Dr. K M Lo, Chemist (kmlo@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3823 |
| Dr. Edward T T Wong, Chemist (ttwong@govtlab.gov.hk) |
2762-3822 |
The following instruments are used routinely by the Section:
Key Performance Measures Relating to the Forensic Science Services
Targets
Targets are defined as the number of working days required to complete 80% of cases
| Category | Targets Working Days Per Case | 2006 (Actual) |
2007 (Actual) |
2008 (Plan) |
| Analytical toxicology | 33 | 42 | 35 | 35 |
| Drug urinalysis (methadone clinics) | 11 | 6 | 9 | 10 |
| Drug urinalysis (judicial-confirmation) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 |
| Drink-driving | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Key Indicators
Key indicators are the number of cases completed
| Number of Cases Investigated | 2006 (Actual) |
2007 (Actual) |
2008 (Estimate) |
| Analytical toxicology | 2,400 | 2,562 | 2,500 |
| Drink-driving | 118 | 121 | 130 |
| Total | 2,518 | 2,683 | 2,630 |
| Number of Tests Completed | 2006 (Actual) |
2007 (Actual) |
2008 (Estimate) |
| Drug urinalysis (methadone clinics) | 14,279 | 14,682 | 15,000 |
| Drug urinalysis (judicial-confirmation) | 64,266 | 80,682 | 70,000 |
| Total | 78,545 | 95,364 | 85,000 |
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