In 1975, South Bend Medical Foundation designated Toxicology as a specialized department. Today, after 30 years of growth, the department is devoted to forensic toxicology, conducting workplace and athletic substance abuse testing.
South Bend Medical Foundation has developed an Employee Drug Screening Program that not only meets high-quality testing standards, but also is sensitive to the need for confidentiality and an accurate audit of all people handling specimens, from collection to analysis.
The Forensic Toxicology Program of South Bend Medical Foundation is certified by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - National Laboratory Certification Program (NLCP), and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry - College of American Pathologists Forensic Urine Drug Test Program (AACC-CAP FUDT). In addition, South Bend Medical Foundation is one of the original ten Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (formerly NIDA) laboratories and one of the original 26 AACC-CAP FUDT laboratories certified.
The Forensic Toxicology Department subscribes voluntarily to three major proficiency survey programs designed to ensure accuracy and excellence in the drug testing laboratory:
- The AACC/College of American Pathologists Toxicology Testing Program
- The AACC/College of American Pathologists Alcohol Testing Program
- The Department of Health and Human Services - National Laboratory Certification Program (DHHS-NLCP)
