Toxicological Chemistry

The examination in Toxicological Chemistry tests the candidate’s Recall and Applied skills and is comprised of two parts: A) Calculations & Problem Solving, and B) Analytical, Toxicological and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Issues.

 

The examination tests mastery and knowledge of 1) analytical techniques, 2) physiology, 3) pathophysiology, and 4) management.

All questions are in multiple-choice format with one correct answer of options A-E. The toxicological chemistry part A examination has an average cumulative 5-year pass rate of 72%, the part B examination has an average cumulative pass rate of 56%.

 Part A (3 hours)

For Part A, the examinee is expected to perform calculations and problem solving related to:

• Analytical techniques, e.g. chromatography, immunoassays, and mass spectrometry.
• Toxicology, e.g. drug identification and chain-of-custody.
• Therapeutic drug monitoring, e.g. pharmacokinetics
• Basic statistics as applied to toxicology

Part B (3 hours)

For Part B, the examinee is expected to answer questions related to:

• Principles, characteristics and limitations of instrumentation and technologies used in a clinical or forensic toxicology or therapeutic drug monitoring laboratory, e.g. spectrometry, immunoassays, chromatography.
• Interpretation of clinical and forensic findings and laboratory data
• Basic pathophysiology and forensic requirements

Suggested Study Resources

Past examinees have identified the following activities as beneficial for preparing for this examination. These activities are NOT meant to be comprehensive guides but rather are presented to illustrate the broad nature of toxicological chemistry. They are not endorsed by the ABCC.

RESOURCES

• Casarett & Doull’s Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons, 9^th Edition
  By Klassen, ed.
• Clarke’s Analysis of Drugs and Poisons, 4^th Edition
  By Moffat, ed.
• Clinical Chemistry: Theory, Analysis, Correlation, 5^th Edition
  By Kaplan and Pesce, eds.
• Clinical Toxicology Testing: A Guide for Laboratory Professionals, 2^nd Edition
  By Magnani, Kwong, McMillin, and Wu, eds.
• Contemporary Practice in Clinical Chemistry, 4th Edition
  By Clarke and Marzinke, eds.
• Critical Issues in Alcohol and Drugs of Abuse Testing, 2^nd Edition
  By Dasgupta, ed.
• Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man, 12^th Edition
  By Baselt.
• Garriott’s Medicolegal Aspects of Alcohol, 6^th Edition
  By Caplan and Goldberger, eds.
• Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13^th Edition
  By Brunton, Hilal-Dandan, and Knollmann, eds.
• Handbook of Forensic Toxicology for Medical Examiners, 2^nd Edition
  By Molina and Hargrove.
• Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, 23^rd Edition
  By McPherson and Pincus, eds.
• The Clinical Toxicology Laboratory. Contemporary Practice of Poisoning Evaluation. 2^nd Edition
  By Kwong, Magnani, Rosano, and Shaw, eds.
• Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, 6th Edition
  By Rifai, Horvath and Wittwer, eds.
• Toxicology: A Case-Oriented Approach, 1^st Edition
  By J Fenton.
• Poisoning & Drug Overdose (Lange), 7^th Edition
  By Olson, ed.
• Principles of Forensic Toxicology, 5^th Edition
  By B Levine.

OTHER RESOURCES

• Clinical Chemistry Journal
• Journal of Analytical Toxicology
• Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Journal

ADDITIONAL TEXTBOOK RESOURCES (OUT OF PRINT)

• 500 Referenced Review Questions in Toxicology by White
• Applied Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics: Principles of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Buron, Shaw, Schentag and Evans
• Forensic Toxicology: A Physiologic Perspective by Dolinak
• Medical Toxicology by Dart
• Pain Management Testing Reference by White and Black
• Pediatric Toxicology: Diagnosis and Management of the Poisoned Patient by Ahrens, Aks, Baum, and Ling
• Professional Practice in Toxicology: A Review by Warner, Hohnadel, and Pesce, eds.
• The Laboratory and the Poisoned Patient by Fenton
• Toxicology: Pearls of Wisdom by Greenberg, Hendrickson, and Morocco