Update to the Toxicology Impaired Driving Check Sheet

In July 2019, Toxicology Services introduced a new service for drug analyses for impaired driving cases. The new service, Per Se Drug Analysis, targets the drugs listed in the Blood Drug Regulations associated with impaired driving. Clients have the choice of selecting this service or selecting the traditional Standard Drug Analysis. As a result of the experience gained since the introduction of the Per Se Drug Analysis Service, Toxicology Services has updated the Information Sheet of their Analysis Request Check Sheet - Impaired Driving Cases (Blood Samples). This check sheet must accompany requests for alcohol and drug analysis of blood or blood products (i.e. blood taken by demand or hospital samples seized by a warrant) that are part of an impaired driving investigation Toxicology Services have updated their recommendations for selecting the appropriate analytical service (e.g. Per Se or Standard) based on specific case situations. In addition, specific recommendations for DRE cases with blood samples have been added to the Information Sheet. The updated recommendations are as follows:

Non-DRE Case Recommendations:

Per Se Drug Analysis: Cases with the following criteria. 1. Approved Drug Screening Equipment –Oral Fluid used 2. Only interest is the drug Per Se Charges (i.e. local policy, direction from prosecution services, etc.) 3. Approved containers (i.e. BAC Kit) used and one or more Per Se drugs are suspected 4. Medical samples were seized and one or more Per Se drug(s) except Cocaine* is/are suspected

Standard Drug Analysis: Cases with the following criteria. 1. Drugs other than those listed in the blood drug regulations are suspected INCLUDING prescription medications (e.g. fentanyl, methadone, prescription drugs, etc.) 2. Unknown drug suspected 3. Medical Samples were seized and Cocaine* is suspected

DRE Case Recommendations:

Per Se Drug Analysis: Cases where ONLY the following Category(ies) were called and/or specific drugs are suspected. 1. Cannabis 2. CNS Stimulants – Suspected Methamphetamine 3. CNS Depressant – Suspected GHB 4. Dissociative Anaesthetics – Suspected Ketamine

Standard Drug Analysis: Cases where the following Category(ies) were called and/or specific drugs are suspected. 1. CNS Stimulants – Cocaine* 2. CNS Depressant – Drug other than GHB suspected 3. Dissociative Anaesthetic – Drug other than Ketamine suspected 4. Narcotic Analgesic 5. Inhalants 6. Hallucinogens

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* Cocaine degrades over time in blood samples. Degradation products are detected in the Standard Drug Analysis but not in the Per Se Drug analysis. Furthermore, Toxicology Services would like to issue the following reminders and clarifications:

1. The check sheet is not required for DRE cases where urine samples are being submitted.

2. The Per Se Drug Analysis will only look for 8 drugs. Metabolites and break down products are not included in this analysis.

3. Certificates of an Analyst are only issued with the Per Se Drug analyses.