Mission Statement

The Forensic Toxicology Laboratory (FTL), Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office, located in San Antonio, TX, is an American Board of Forensic Toxicology accredited laboratory providing routine forensic toxicology services for a variety of clients.

Our primary function is to assist the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office in the determination of the cause of death in cases under their investigation. This task is accomplished through analytical postmortem toxicology services, the interpretation of analytical results, and case consultations. These services are also available on a fee for service basis to other medical examiners, pathologists, or coroners who require postmortem toxicology support. The FTL also performs a limited number of human performance toxicological evaluations on DUI, DWI, DRE, and sexual assault cases; also on a fee for service basis. Analytical toxicology services may be provided for hospitals and other agencies for specialty testing on a case-by-case basis; all special requests must be approved before specimens are submitted for analysis. Consultations and expert testimony are also provided to county agencies and other groups on drug-related issues. Our goal is to provide our customers with the highest quality toxicology support services, consultations, and expert testimony available and to provide that service in the most timely manner possible.