Practice Test GeeksABT - American Board of Toxicology Practice Test
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Forensic Toxicology Flashcards

6 cards from real ABT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which drug is associated with 'excited delirium syndrome' and sudden death in forensic cases, often involving restraint?

    Answer: Cocaine or methamphetamine

    Excited delirium syndrome is frequently associated with stimulant drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine) and is characterized by hyperthermia, agitation, superhuman strength, and sudden death.

  2. GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is particularly challenging in forensic toxicology because:

    Answer: It is an endogenous compound with a short detection window (4–8 hours in urine)

    GHB is an endogenous brain metabolite with a short half-life (~30 minutes) and narrow detection window (4–8 hours in urine), making it difficult to detect in drug-facilitated sexual assault cases.

  3. The Widmark formula is used in forensic alcohol investigations to calculate:

    Answer: Retrograde extrapolation of blood alcohol concentration

    The Widmark formula uses known elimination rate (β), body weight, and time to retrograde extrapolate what a person's BAC would have been at an earlier time point.

  4. Which specimen is most useful for detecting drug exposure in neonates born to substance-using mothers?

    Answer: Meconium

    Meconium (first stool) accumulates drug metabolites from fetal swallowing of amniotic fluid throughout the second and third trimesters, providing a longer window of detection than urine.

  5. In workplace drug testing regulated by SAMHSA/DOT, which five drug classes must be tested in the federal 5-panel screen?

    Answer: Amphetamines, cocaine, opioids, PCP, marijuana (THC)

    The federally mandated 5-panel workplace drug test screens for amphetamines, cocaine metabolites, opioids/opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), and marijuana metabolites (THC-COOH).

  6. Which biotransformation product of heroin is measured in forensic urine testing to confirm heroin use specifically (vs. prescription opioids)?

    Answer: 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM)

    6-Monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) is a unique heroin metabolite not produced from any other opioid, and its presence in urine or blood confirms heroin use within 2–8 hours of ingestion.