What is the main purpose of a toxicology report?

The main purpose of a toxicology report is to identify the presence of drugs and poisons within a biological sample, such as blood, urine, or tissue. This is crucial in forensic science, as it helps determine whether substances were a factor in a person's death or influenced their behavior. Toxicology reports can reveal the types of substances involved, their concentrations, and their potential effects on the body, thereby playing a significant role in understanding the circumstances surrounding an incident.

In contrast, determining the time of death focuses on the specifics of a timeline and biological changes occurring post-mortem, while analyzing signs of trauma pertains to physical injuries and their implications. Assessing mental health status, although important in many cases, does not specifically relate to the identification of substances within the body. Each of these aspects serves a different purpose in forensic investigations, but the primary focus of the toxicology report remains on substance identification.