Dear Valued Client,

In the spirit of continual improvement and to provide our clients with industry leading service, we are excited to announce an upcoming change in testing associated with our 32400: Electrolyte Panel.  For years this testing has been a referred test to another laboratory, however, beginning on August 1^st, 2022 the 32400: Electrolyte Panel will be performed as an in-house test.

Axis has worked hard to source industry leading equipment in order to offer this testing with a higher level of service, and no increase in price.

You can always find the most recent publication for our panel offerings on our Test Catalog, found at www.axisfortox.com.

For specific questions regarding our tests or tests not found on our Test Catalog, please contact our Lab Client Support Team at [email protected].

We look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,
Matt Zollman
Director of Operations & Product Management

Dear Valued Client,

In the spirit of continual improvement, to provide the most relevant panels and tests in the industry, our products are periodically updated as new compounds emerge and older compounds cease to be relevant over the years. It is with that goal in mind that we announce the creation of the 13910: Nitazene Analog Panel. Beginning with orders placed on or after June 27th, 2022, the 13910: Nitazene Analog Panel will include the following compounds:

• Butonitazene
• Etodesnitazene
• Etonitazene
• Flunitazene
• Isotodesnitazene
• Isotonitazene
• Metodesnitazene
• Metonitazene
• N-Pyrrolidino Etonitazene
• Protonitazene

In addition, as part of this change, these compounds will be removed from the 13710: Novel Emerging Compounds Panel. All of these compounds will still be included as part of the 70510: Comprehensive Panel, Blood with Analyte Assurance™.

You can always find the most recent publication for our panel offerings on our Test Catalog, found at www.axisfortox.com.

For specific questions regarding our tests or tests not found on our Test Catalog, please contact our Lab Client Support Team at [email protected].

We look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Matt Zollman

Director of Operations & Product Management

By Matt Zollman, Director of Operations and Product Management

In the spirit of continual improvement, to provide the most relevant panels and tests in the industry, our products are periodically updated as new compounds emerge and older compounds cease to be relevant over the years. It is with that goal in mind that we announce an update to our 13710: Novel Emerging Compounds Panel. Beginning with orders placed on or after November 8th, 2021, the 13710: Novel Emerging Compounds Panel will include the following compounds, in addition to those already in the panel:

• AP-237
• Butonitazene
• Etonitazene
• Flunitazene
• Fluorofentanyl

Attached you will find our most recent publications for our 13710: Novel Emerging Compounds Panel (Panel Specifications). Additionally, you can always find the most recent publication for our panel offerings on our Test Catalog, found at www.axisfortox.com.

For specific questions regarding our tests or tests not found on our Test Catalog, please contact our Lab Client Support Team at [email protected].

We look forward to serving you.

From Phil Roberts, CEO

Today Axis celebrates The Day of the Dead!

Some history on this cultural and religious holiday…

The Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos) is a holiday celebrated from 31st October through 2nd of November inclusive, though other days, such as 6th November, may be included depending on the locality. It originated, in part, in Mexico, where it is mostly observed, but also in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere. Although associated with the Western Christian All Hallowtide observances of All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, it has a much less solemn tone and is portrayed as a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed. 

All Souls’ Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed and the Day of the Dead, is a day of prayer and remembrance for the souls of those who have died, which is observed by Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations. All Souls’ Day is often celebrated in Western Christianity; Saturday of Souls is a related tradition more frequently observed in Eastern Christianity. Practitioners of All Souls’ Day traditions often remember deceased loved ones in various ways on the day. Beliefs and practices associated with All Souls’ Day vary widely among Christian denominations. 

At Axis you would see a few people dressed up, the office a little decorated, and holiday food.

Celebrating The Day of the Dead is an example of where Axis can emphasize the meaning and impact of Axis’ work. We are on mission when we help families with closure.

May today be a fond remembrance of a friend or family member no longer with us, and a celebration of the importance of your work!

By Phil Roberts, CEO

It was terrific connecting in person this year in West Palm Beach!

Dr. George Behonick, Axis’ Lab Director and Chief Toxicologist, and Trevor Templin, Axis’ Operational Services Manager, and I enjoyed visiting with everyone.

Dr. Behonick presented Case Report: Detection of Novel Psychoactive Drugs in the Context of Fentanyl and Heroin Use. This poster, developed in conjunction with the Office of the Lake County, Indiana, Coroner, provides an example of the complexities of death investigation in light of the emergence of novel compounds.  For a copy of the poster, please contact [email protected].

George Behonick presents Axis Case Report

It is always exciting to have the NAME and Axis Communities come together.  Axis is proud to contribute to the good work of our NAME accredited Offices and NAME members!

We are pleased to announce that an Axis Forensic Toxicology subject matter expert has been appointed to a new Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) standing committee. 

Axis Forensic Toxicology (2021)
https://axisfortox.com

Kevin Shanks, M.S., D-ABFT-FT has joined SOFT’s newly formed Postmortem Toxicology committee, which is comprised of 11 forensic professionals who have experience in postmortem toxicology, forensic pathology, and/or medicolegal death investigation from across the United States and Canada. The committee is holding its first official meeting during the 2021 Society of Forensic Toxicologists annual conference in Nashville, TN. Shanks is also a member of SOFT’s Young Forensic Toxicologists committee and Designer Drugs committee. 

The mission of the Postmortem Toxicology committee is to serve as a resource for medicolegal professionals and to promote collaboration and communication between forensic toxicologists, forensic pathologists and coroners, medicolegal death investigators, and law enforcement to assist in the determination of cause and manner of death.  

The Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), founded in 1970, is a professional organization for forensic toxicologists and chemists. The Society’s peer reviewed scientific journal is the Journal of Analytical Toxicology.   The Society will hold its annual conference September 26th through October 1st, 2021, in Nashville, TN.

Society of Forensic Toxicologists (2021) 
http://www.soft-tox.org

By Phil Roberts, CEO

This week we join fellow forensic scientists across the county in observance of National Forensic Science Week!

What a wonderful opportunity to…

• Recognize the important role medical examiners, coroners, pathologists, death investigators, forensic nurses, and infant clinicians play 
• Celebrate the use of proper forensic science 
• Appreciate the complexity of medicolegal death investigations, drug facilitated crimes, and infant welfare protection throughout the nation
• Applaud the scientific and technical professionals that serve our communities in this vital role.

Watch for communication throughout the week as we recognize and celebrate together.

Axis is proud to walk alongside you with your casework, and to be your forensic toxicology partner!

By Denise Purdie Andrews

The life blood of advancing the science of forensic toxicology lies in the academic peer reviewed contributions of the field’s rank-in-file members. A variety of forums exist for a laboratory to share its experiences for the greater good. These include published full length journal manuscripts, case reports, and technical notes; additionally, sharing our experiences with colleagues from around the United States and the world is made possible by our participation in various meetings and scientific gatherings. Most often, these take the form of short oral platform presentations, poster sessions and contributions as workshop faculty speakers. The opportunity to do these things is only possible by the diligence, skilled professional competence, and effort of the laboratory as a team. We also acknowledge the collaboration we enjoy with our coroner and medical examiner clients. 

Axis Forensic Toxicology (2021)
https://axisfortox.com

We are pleased to announce that Axis Forensic Toxicology subject matter experts have had presentations accepted for national forensic toxicology and medical examiner conferences upcoming in the fall 2021. 

Kevin Shanks, M.S., D-ABFT-FT will be presenting two poster presentations and one oral platform presentation on various topics including novel psychoactive substances (synthetic cannabinoids and metonitazene) at the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) annual meeting in Nashville, TN in September 2021.  

George Behonick, Ph.D., F-ABFT will be presenting a case report describing novel psychoactive substances (brorphine, flualprazolam, and metonitazene) in the setting of heroin and fentanyl at the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) annual meeting in West Palm Beach, FL in October 2021. 

 We hope you can attend these presentations. 

Postmortem Toxicology in Kentucky: Looking Back at 2020
Kevin G. Shanks¹, Dr. George S. Behonick¹, and Dr. William Ralston^2
1Axis Forensic Toxicology
²Kentucky Office of the Medical Examiner

The Ever-Changing Scope of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Toxicology Casework II (2016-2020)
Kevin G. Shanks¹ and Dr. George S. Behonick^1
1Axis Forensic Toxicology

Emergence of the Novel Opioid, Metonitazene, in Postmortem Toxicology and Detection by LC-QToF-MS
Kevin G. Shanks¹*, Dr. George S. Behonick¹, and Dr. Lisa K. Mannix^2
1Axis Forensic Toxicology
²Butler County, Ohio Coroner’s Office

Case Report: Detection of Novel Psychoactive Drugs in the Context of Fentanyl and Heroin use
Dr. George S. Behonick¹, Dr. Zhuo Wang², Kevin G. Shanks¹ and Merrilee Frey^2
1Axis Forensic Toxicology
²Office of the Lake County Coroner, Crown Point, IN

If you would like a copy of these presentations, we can provide them after the conference dates. Please email us at [email protected]. 

The Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), founded in 1970, is a professional organization for forensic toxicologists and chemists. The Society’s peer reviewed scientific journal is the Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 

Society of Forensic Toxicologists (2021) 
http://www.soft-tox.org

The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), founded in 1966, is a professional organization for medical examiners, forensic pathologists, and medical-legal affiliates and administrators. The Association’s peer reviewed scientific journal is The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. 

National Association of Medical Examiners (2021) 
https://name.memberclicks.net

by Denise Purdie Andrews

Kevin Shanks will be giving a presentation on synthetic cannabinoids at the meeting of the LTG (London Toxicology Group) on June 18, 2021. He will be speaking alongside colleagues in the field of forensic toxicology from Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Medical Examiner’s Office, the University of Lincoln (United Kingdom), The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (Alberta, Canada), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The LTG, first established in 1979, aims to promote the advancement of the science of analytical toxicology for public benefit and education. The group is comprised of members from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and elsewhere.

The agenda for the meeting can be found here: Agenda