ABMDI Board Certification Test
Questions and Complete Solutions
Graded A+
Barbituates - Answer: Four main categories:
1. Ultra-short-acting - used to induce surgical anesthesia
2. Short-acting
3. Intermediate-acting - used as sedative-hypnotics
4. Long-acting
Butalbital - Answer: Barbituate. Used in treatment of migraines
Phenobarbital - Answer: Barbituate. Used as anticonvulsant
Pentobarbital - Answer: Barbituate. Used to relieve intracranial pressure following trauma
Atropine - Answer: Belladonna Alkaloid.
Derived from certain plants including jimsonweed and deadly nightshade. Used as a preanesthetic
therapy to control airway secretions and as a antispasmodic to control gastrointestinal spasms. Used as
an antidote in the treatment of poisoning by cholinesterase inhibitors. Also used in resuscitative
attempts
Toxic effects: mydriasis, hot dry reddened skin, delirium, and hallucinations
Scopalamine - Answer: Belladonna Alkaloid.
Derived from jimsonweed and henbane. Used as a preanesthetic, treatment of Parkinsonism,
gastrointestinal disorders, and prevention of motion sickness
Toxic effects: Blurred vision, dryness of throat, dilated pupils, somnolence, mydriasis, skin flushing,
hallucinations, and confusion
Benzodiazepines - Answer: Belladonna Alkaloid.
,Used as anxiolytics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and as preoperative sedatives
Common benzos: alprazolam, lorazepam, clonazepam, and diazepam
Extensive hepatic metabolism
Adult flies caught at the scene need to be properly stored to send to the lab. This involves: - Answer:
Placing the flies in a glass vial containing 70% isopropyl alcohol
Forensic scientists may use forensic entomology for all the following EXCEPT:
a. Estimate the duration of the postmortem range (PMI)
b. Detect drugs of abuse in maggot infested bodies
c. Detect the location of the body at the time of death
d. Collect DNA material left on the corpse in cases of sexual assault
e. Detect volatile hydrocarbons in fire death - Answer: e. Detect volatile hydrocarbons in fire death
Which of the following methods is the LEAST sensitive chromatographic technique:
a. High-pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC)
b. Liquid chromatography/Mass spectrometry
c. Thin-layer chromatography
d. Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry
e. Gas chromatography - Answer: c. Thin-layer chromatography
Which ONE of the following drugs is responsible for the most intentional overdose fatalities?:
a. Barbiturates
b. Propoxyphene
c. Benzodiazepines
d. Tricyclic Antidepressants
e. Antihistamines - Answer: d. Tricyclic Antidepressants
, In scenes illuminated by bright sunlight, there will usually be dark shadow areas. Detail in the deep
shadow areas will be lost when the exposure is based on the overall brightness of the scene. The
brightness level in the shadow areas can be raised to the overall brightness of the scene by using:
a. An alternate light source
b. Ultraviolet fluorescence
c. Flash-fill photography
d. An increased F-stop
e. A restricted aperture - Answer: c. Flash-fill photography
Using an alternate light source, you can identify stains that may contain samples of:
a. Serum
b. Semen
c. Saliva
d. Urine
e. All of the above - Answer: e. All of the above
When submitting tool mark evidence for examination, you should always:
a. Place the tool against the tool marked evidence
b. Make test cuts or impressions rather than submit the tool
c. Submit a cast of the tool mark
d. Refrain from collecting samples of any material deposited on the tools
e. All of the above - Answer: c. Submit a cast of the tool mark
With regards to investigating a scene where firearms were used, which ONE of the following statements
is FALSE?:
a. Bullet holes through doors can produce atypical entrance wounds
b. The presence of spent cartridges at the scene suggests a semi-automatic assault rifle
c. Fragments from intermediate targets can cause pseudo-stippling
d. A spent cartridge at the scene is most suggestive of a revolver-type handgun
Questions and Complete Solutions
Graded A+
Barbituates - Answer: Four main categories:
1. Ultra-short-acting - used to induce surgical anesthesia
2. Short-acting
3. Intermediate-acting - used as sedative-hypnotics
4. Long-acting
Butalbital - Answer: Barbituate. Used in treatment of migraines
Phenobarbital - Answer: Barbituate. Used as anticonvulsant
Pentobarbital - Answer: Barbituate. Used to relieve intracranial pressure following trauma
Atropine - Answer: Belladonna Alkaloid.
Derived from certain plants including jimsonweed and deadly nightshade. Used as a preanesthetic
therapy to control airway secretions and as a antispasmodic to control gastrointestinal spasms. Used as
an antidote in the treatment of poisoning by cholinesterase inhibitors. Also used in resuscitative
attempts
Toxic effects: mydriasis, hot dry reddened skin, delirium, and hallucinations
Scopalamine - Answer: Belladonna Alkaloid.
Derived from jimsonweed and henbane. Used as a preanesthetic, treatment of Parkinsonism,
gastrointestinal disorders, and prevention of motion sickness
Toxic effects: Blurred vision, dryness of throat, dilated pupils, somnolence, mydriasis, skin flushing,
hallucinations, and confusion
Benzodiazepines - Answer: Belladonna Alkaloid.
,Used as anxiolytics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and as preoperative sedatives
Common benzos: alprazolam, lorazepam, clonazepam, and diazepam
Extensive hepatic metabolism
Adult flies caught at the scene need to be properly stored to send to the lab. This involves: - Answer:
Placing the flies in a glass vial containing 70% isopropyl alcohol
Forensic scientists may use forensic entomology for all the following EXCEPT:
a. Estimate the duration of the postmortem range (PMI)
b. Detect drugs of abuse in maggot infested bodies
c. Detect the location of the body at the time of death
d. Collect DNA material left on the corpse in cases of sexual assault
e. Detect volatile hydrocarbons in fire death - Answer: e. Detect volatile hydrocarbons in fire death
Which of the following methods is the LEAST sensitive chromatographic technique:
a. High-pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC)
b. Liquid chromatography/Mass spectrometry
c. Thin-layer chromatography
d. Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry
e. Gas chromatography - Answer: c. Thin-layer chromatography
Which ONE of the following drugs is responsible for the most intentional overdose fatalities?:
a. Barbiturates
b. Propoxyphene
c. Benzodiazepines
d. Tricyclic Antidepressants
e. Antihistamines - Answer: d. Tricyclic Antidepressants
, In scenes illuminated by bright sunlight, there will usually be dark shadow areas. Detail in the deep
shadow areas will be lost when the exposure is based on the overall brightness of the scene. The
brightness level in the shadow areas can be raised to the overall brightness of the scene by using:
a. An alternate light source
b. Ultraviolet fluorescence
c. Flash-fill photography
d. An increased F-stop
e. A restricted aperture - Answer: c. Flash-fill photography
Using an alternate light source, you can identify stains that may contain samples of:
a. Serum
b. Semen
c. Saliva
d. Urine
e. All of the above - Answer: e. All of the above
When submitting tool mark evidence for examination, you should always:
a. Place the tool against the tool marked evidence
b. Make test cuts or impressions rather than submit the tool
c. Submit a cast of the tool mark
d. Refrain from collecting samples of any material deposited on the tools
e. All of the above - Answer: c. Submit a cast of the tool mark
With regards to investigating a scene where firearms were used, which ONE of the following statements
is FALSE?:
a. Bullet holes through doors can produce atypical entrance wounds
b. The presence of spent cartridges at the scene suggests a semi-automatic assault rifle
c. Fragments from intermediate targets can cause pseudo-stippling
d. A spent cartridge at the scene is most suggestive of a revolver-type handgun
