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Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences

Forensic toxicology laboratory

Areas: Public Health

"The Forensic Toxicology Laboratory performs forensic-toxicological analyses and provides consultancy services for legal purposes, collaborating with Public Institutions such as the Prosecutor's Office, Law Enforcement, Driver's License Public Health Committee, and the Services for Pathological Dependencies. Furthermore, the laboratory actively engages in research across various fields of forensic medicine and contributes to educational programs within the University of Bologna's degree courses.".

Research

Validation and application of analytical methods for the detection of drugs of abuse and/or psychotropic substances in complex biological matrices for forensic purposes.

Analysis of drugs related to drug-facilitated crimes, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and other offenses against individuals.

Hair analysis to assess substances exposure: traditional drugs of abuse (cocaine, amphetamines, methampethamines, cannabinoids, opioids, methadone), new psychoactive substances (NPS), and pharmaceuticals.

Determination of persistent organic pollutants (i.e. PFAS) in biological matrices (hair, blood, tissues).

 

Teaching

Training is provided as part of the curricular internships and thesis work for students enrolled in the Health Biology degree program. Additionally, upon request from students in other relevant degree programs in the medical-legal and biomedical-forensic fields, specialized thesis projects are tailored to their interests. The laboratory also contributes to the educational development of medical residents at the School of Forensic Medicine and other schools within the University of Bologna.

Instrumentation

Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS); gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector (GC-FID); Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS); high pressure liquid chromatography -diode array detector (HPLC-DAD).

Analysis

Analysis of fluids and cadaveric tissues upon request from the Judicial Authority to support forensic investigations to ascertain the cause and manner of death.

Analysis of markers of chronic alcohol abuse (ethyl glucuronide in hair and urine).

Forensic Toxicological Analysis for Certification purposes (Fitness for Driving, Workplace Drug Testing, Firearm Licensing)

Identification of Psychotropic Drugs and drugs of abuse in hair, urine, blood and other matrices collected from deceased and living Individuals for Forensic Purposes.

Toxicological-forensic and medicolegal consulting on legal cases.

The laboratory is a reference center for the Emilia Romagna Region for the execution of confirmatory analyses for in the field of workplace drug testing (Decree No. 99/CU of 30/10/2007) and the State/Regions Agreement (official acts no. 178 of 18 September 2008).

The laboratory performs analyses at the request of law enforcement agencies on non-biological materials ex art. 75 DPR 309/1990.

Head of the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory

TECHNICAL TEAM MANAGER

  • Marco Garagnani

    Area dei Funzionari - Settore scientifico - tecnologico

    DIMEC - Unità di laboratorio di Tossicologia forense e occupazionale

    Via Irnerio 49

    Bologna (BO)

    marco.garagnani@unibo.it

    Tel: +39 051 2088345

Team

  • Rossella Barone

    Area dei Funzionari - Settore scientifico - tecnologico

    DIMEC - Unità di laboratorio di Tossicologia forense e occupazionale

    Via Irnerio 49

    Bologna (BO)

    rossella.barone3@unibo.it

  • Alessandra Gori

    Area dei Funzionari - Settore scientifico - tecnologico

    DIMEC - Unità di laboratorio di Medicina specialistica

    Via Massarenti 9

    Bologna (BO)

    alessandra.gori@unibo.it

    Tel: +39 051 636 4 114

  • Susan Mohamed

    Area dei Funzionari - Settore scientifico - tecnologico, Teaching tutor

    DIMEC - Unità di laboratorio di Tossicologia forense e occupazionale

    Via Irnerio 49

    Bologna (BO)

    susan.mohamed2@unibo.it

    Tel: +39 051 4966750

    Tel: +39 051 20 9 2750

  • Raffaella Roffi

    Area dei Funzionari - Settore scientifico - tecnologico

    DIMEC - Unità di laboratorio di Tossicologia forense e occupazionale

    Via Irnerio 49

    Bologna (BO)

    raffaella.roffi@unibo.it

    Tel: +39 051 2088345

  • Francesca Rossi

    Area dei Funzionari - Settore scientifico - tecnologico

    DIMEC - Unità di laboratorio di Tossicologia forense e occupazionale

    Via Irnerio 49

    Bologna (BO)

    francesca.rossi@unibo.it

    Tel: +39 051 2088345

FORENSIC MEDICINE RESEARCH TEAM

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