Forensic and Scientific Services

Forensic and Scientific Services (FSS) is part of Queensland Health and provides specialist scientific and medical analysis and independent expert advice in the state of Queensland, Australia. It is sometimes referred to as the John Tonge Centre.

Forensic and Scientific Services
Established1989
Address39 Kessels Road
LocationCoopers Plains, Queensland, Australia
4108
Operating agency
Queensland Health
WebsiteForensic and Scientific Services

Services

Forensic and Scientific Services are part of the government response to threats to public health, threats to the environment, epidemics, civil emergencies, criminal investigations and coroners' inquiries into reportable deaths. Additionally they provide services to private and public sector clients in forensics, public health and environmental science. Services include:

  • Police services[1]
    • DNA profiling,
    • identification of deceased persons,
    • Forensic chemistry services including blood alcohol and drug analysis,[2]
    • evidence examinations and reporting
    • clandestine laboratory analysis.
  • Forensic and Coronial services[3]
    • Autopsy to determine cause and circumstances of death,
    • Mortuary, counselling[4] services to bereaved families, coronial pathology and toxicology services and investigation of sudden or suspicious death. These services are located in the John Tonge Centre.
    • forensic testing for alcohol and drugs[5]
    • advice on human ethics and tissue donation.
  • Clinical Forensic Medicine[6]
    • examinations and treatment of victims and alleged perpetrators of crime.
  • Public and Environmental Health[7]
    • Inorganic Chemistry analyse metals and elements in environmental samples such as water, soil, sediment, food, blood, urine and other biological tissues.
    • Organic Chemistry provide testing, analysis and advice on a range of issues including: residues and contaminants, algal identification, food testing, molecular and chemical testing, air monitoring.
    • Radiation and Nuclear Sciences provide radiation science-based solutions including advisory and measurement services, radiation surveys and sample collection, baseline mapping,[8] surveillance and monitoring programs, calibration of measuring instruments, regulatory surveillance monitoring, investigation and reporting on radiation incidents.[9]
    • Microbiology provide investigations, analysis, molecular epidemiology,[10] diagnostic services and advice on bacterial outbreaks in food[11] and water.[12] The Public Health Microbiology laboratories also house the Leptospirosis[13] and bacterial pathogens reference libraries.[14]
    • Virology provide diagnostic and references services for viral and rickettsial diseases such as Coronavirus, Zika virus, Measles, Dengue fever, Norovirus and Influenza.[15]

Research and development

The research and development undertaken at FSS is focused into two areas: Public and Environmental Health and Forensic Sciences.[16]

Forensic and Scientific Services have an extensive collection of reference and clinical samples. External researchers can apply to access coronial and non-coronial biological data [17]

References in the media

Forensic and Scientific Services is often, and incorrectly, referred to by news media as the John Tonge Centre.[18][19] The John Tonge Centre refers specifically to the mortuary.

See also

References
  1. "Police services". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  2. "Forensic chemical testing". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  3. "Forensic and Coronial Services". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  4. "Coping with unexpected death". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  5. "Forensic toxicology". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  6. "Clinical forensic medicine". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  7. "Scientific services, analysis and advice". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  8. EIANZ News 27 June 2016 Baseline radiological mapping of Queensland
  9. "Radiation and nuclear sciences". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  10. "Molecular Epidemiology". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  11. "Food and beverage testing". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  12. "Water testing". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  13. "Leptospirosis Reference Laboratory". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  14. "Microbiology reference laboratories". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  15. "Public health virology". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  16. "Research Priorities". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  17. "Access materials and data for research". Queensland Health. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  18. "Probe into human brains stolen for race horse stimulant". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 October 2005.
  19. "DNA ties murder accused to scene: court". Brisbane Times. 26 August 2011.
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