Toxicology Testing

Scientific Testing for Detection, Quantification, and Assessment of Toxic Substances

Toxicology testing is the scientific evaluation of the harmful effects of chemical, biological, or physical agents on living organisms and the environment. It involves laboratory and clinical analyses to detect, quantify, and monitor exposure to toxic substances, such as drugs, heavy metals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and environmental pollutants.

At METS Lab, Doha, our ISO/IEC 17025-accredited toxicology laboratory provides comprehensive testing for clinical, occupational, forensic, and regulatory applications, ensuring safety, compliance, and scientific integrity.

1. Purpose and Importance of Toxicology Testing

Toxicology testing helps determine:

Whether a substance is toxic or harmful.

The dose or concentration that causes harm

The mechanism of toxicity

The presence or levels of toxins or drugs in biological or environmental samples

It supports public health protection, occupational safety, forensic investigations, and regulatory compliance across multiple sectors.

2. Applications and Fields of Toxicology Testing

Toxicology is multidisciplinary, covering several key domains:

Clinical Toxicology

Diagnosis and management of poisoning, overdose, or drug interactions.
Measurement of toxic agents in blood or urine for hospital and emergency use.

Occupational & Environmental Toxicology

Monitoring workers and populations exposed to industrial chemicals, solvents, or heavy metals.
Assessing air, soil, and water contamination from pollutants.

Forensic and Medico-Legal Toxicology

Detection of illicit drugs, poisons, or alcohol in legal and post-mortem investigations.
Used by law enforcement, courts, and health authorities.

Regulatory & Consumer Product Toxicology

Evaluates chemicals, cosmetics, food additives, and industrial products for safety and compliance.
Supports GSO, MoPH, and GLP requirements for product registration and labeling.

Sports & Anti-Doping Toxicology

Screening athletes for performance-enhancing drugs in compliance with WADA standards.

3. Types of Toxicology Tests and Sample Matrices

Our toxicology lab conducts testing across a wide range of biological and environmental samples, depending on exposure type and purpose.

Sample Type	Common Tests	Example Analytes
Blood	Quantitative analysis	Alcohol, drugs, heavy metals
Urine	Screening & confirmation	Therapeutic drugs, metabolites
Hair/Nails	Long-term exposure assessment	Drugs of abuse, arsenic
Saliva	Rapid drug screening	Narcotics, cannabinoids
Tissue (post-mortem)	Forensic toxicology	Poisons, metabolites
Environmental samples	Pollution & contamination	Pesticides, solvents, industrial chemicals

4. Types of Toxicology Testing Conducted

Drug Screening: Detects therapeutic, illicit, or recreational drugs.

Heavy Metal Analysis: Quantifies lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) in biological fluids.

Biomonitoring: Measures metabolites of industrial chemicals, pesticides, or solvents in exposed populations.

Clinical Toxicology Panels: Assess poisoning cases, overdose, and drug interactions.

Product Safety Toxicology: Evaluates chemical toxicity in consumer goods via in vitro / in vivo studies.

Sports Toxicology: Detects banned substances and metabolites in competitive athletes.

Testing is usually a two-step process:

Screening test (e.g., immunoassay) — quick and broad.

Confirmatory test (e.g., GC-MS or LC-MS/MS) — precise and legally defensible.

5. Analytical Methods Used in Toxicology Testing

Our toxicology laboratory employs advanced instrumentation and multi-step analytical workflows for accuracy, sensitivity, and trace-level detection.

Analytical Techniques:

Chromatography:

Gas Chromatography (GC)
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Mass Spectrometry (MS):
Provides ultra-trace identification and quantification of chemical compounds.

Spectrophotometry / Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS):
For heavy metal analysis in biological and environmental matrices.

Immunoassays (ELISA, CLIA):
Rapid qualitative screening for drugs and toxins.

Titration & Colorimetric Methods:
Used for quick field-level or preliminary assessments.

Testing Workflow:

Screening Test — Rapid, broad detection using immunoassays or colorimetric kits.
Confirmatory Test — Precise, legally defensible confirmation via GC-MS or LC-MS/MS.

This two-tiered process ensures both speed and accuracy for clinical and legal purposes.

6. Quality and Regulatory Standards

All toxicology analyses are performed under strict quality systems to ensure reliability, reproducibility, and legal defensibility.

Compliance Framework:

ISO/IEC 17025 – Testing and calibration laboratory accreditation
ISO 15189 – Clinical laboratory competence (for medical toxicology)
Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) – Non-clinical safety study standards
CAP Accreditation (College of American Pathologists) – Clinical and forensic testing validation (adopted by HMC, Qatar)
WADA Standards – Anti-doping laboratory compliance

Our laboratory’s adherence to these global frameworks ensures that results are accepted by regulatory bodies, health authorities, and international organizations.

7. Industries and Clients We Serve

Our toxicology testing supports a diverse range of industries and sectors, including:

Hospitals and Clinical Laboratories
Pharmaceutical and Chemical Manufacturers
Forensic and Law Enforcement Agencies
Occupational Health & Safety Departments
Sports and Anti-Doping Authorities
Environmental Monitoring Agencies
Regulatory and Public Health Bodies

8. Why Choose METS Laboratories for Toxicology Testing

ISO/IEC 17025 and GLP Accredited Facility
Comprehensive Testing for clinical, forensic, occupational, and environmental purposes
Advanced Instrumentation: GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, HPLC, AAS, ICP-MS
Highly Qualified Toxicologists & Analytical Chemists
Rapid Turnaround with Legal-Defensible Reports
Compliance with MoPH, CAP, and WADA Guidelines

9. Safeguarding Health Through Scientific Toxicology

At METS Lab, our mission is to safeguard human health and environmental safety through accurate, accredited, and internationally compliant toxicology testing.

We provide reliable detection and quantification of toxins, drugs, and pollutants — empowering healthcare providers, regulators, and industries in Qatar to make informed, life-saving decisions.

MIDDLE EAST TESTING SERVICES W.L.L QATAR