Forensic Science SA (South Australia) does autopsies, collects crime evidence, provides drug and alcohol testing
South Australian government agency Forensic Science SA became the independent scientific collector of evidence at crime scenes.
Forensic Science SA, based in Divett Street, Adelaide city, conducts postmortens and collects crime scene forensic evidence but also handles tests for drugs and alcohol.
The state government agency’s pathology section conducted post-mortem examinations when authorised by the state coroner. Forensic pathologists conducted autopsies to determine the cause of death. coordinated the imaging of deceased and analysing specimens collected from the postmortem. This included samples of blood, urine, liver, stomach contents and vitreous fluid to test for drugs or poisons; tissue samples to identify disease; and trace evidence such as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), unexplained hair or fibres collected from the body to help confirm the circumstances of death, identify persons of interest or reveal their link to the deceased.
Forensic Science SA examined bones and other material for information on sex, age, height and race if people could not be identified through traditional means like visual identification, fingerprints, dental records or DNA. Its biology section detected and identified biological material on items collected from a crime scene: for instance, clothing, weapons or personal items. It also gathered and analysed DNA evidence and handled the state’s database of DNA take from convicted and suspect criminals.
Forensic Science SA also carried out drug tests, including hair drug testing. Its toxicology section analysed blood and tissue samples for: unexplained deaths, driving offences and criminal offences committed under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The chemistry section comprised three separate forensic disciplines that provide analytical services: illicit drugs, trace evidence and document examination. A blood sample was screened for either alcohol, or both alcohol and illicit drugs, depending on the accident or offence and the legal requirements.
The oral fluid (saliva) sample was screened for illicit drugs. The illicit drugs prescribed in 2023 for the relevant Acts included: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); methylamphetamine and 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). The scientific method used by Forensice Science SA to identify drugs was highly specific, and prescription drugs would not be falsely identified as positive for any of the three drugs.
Drug testing using hair had a timeframe longer than either blood or urine as drugs remained relatively stable in hair for many months or even years. Hair was tested for health professionals, police officers and accredited workplace drug-testing agencies.
