ABMDI Board Certification Exam Practice Questions and Verified Answers – Forensic Toxicology, Crime Scene, Death Investigation

Barbituates - answerFour 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 - answerBarbituate. Used in treatment of migraines. Phenobarbital - answerBarbituate. Used as anticonvulsant. Pentobarbital - answerBarbituate. Used to relieve intracranial pressure following trauma. Atropine - answerBelladonna Alkaloid. Derived from certain plants including jimson weed 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 - answerBelladonna Alkaloid. Derived from jimson weed and henbane. Used as a preanesthetic, treatment of Parkinsonism, gastrointestinal disorders, and Page1 prevention of motion sickness. Toxic effects: Blurred vision, dryness of throat, dilated pupils, somnolence, mydriasis, skin flushing, hallucinations, and confusion. Benzodiazepines - answerBelladonna 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 - answerplacing 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 post-mortem 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 deaths. - answerdetect volatile hydrocarbons in fire deaths. 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 - answerThin-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 - answerTricyclic 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 Page2 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. - answerFlash-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 - answerAll 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 - answersubmit 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. E. Spent cartridges recovered at the scene can be analyzed by firearm experts. - answerA spent cartridge at the scene is most suggestive of a revolver-type handgun. Which of the following is NOT a bullet fired by a handgun? A. Semi-jacketed hollow point B. Wad cutter C. Buckshot D. Full metal jacket E. Lead round nose - answerBuckshot High-velocity blood spatter is most frequently associated with injuries due to A. a gunshot wound, fall, or power tool. B. a motor vehicle accident, gunshot wound, or fall. C. a fall, blunt trauma, or motor vehicle accident. D. a gunshot wound, power tool, or machinery. E. blunt trauma, sharp force Page3 trauma, or fall. - answera gunshot wound, power tool, or machinery. The "post-mortem examination" phase of a thorough death investigation should include all of the following EXCEPT which ONE? A. Consultation with a forensic odontologist upon finding a suspected bite mark. B. Full-body X-rays on an infant death. C. Toxicology requested for alcohol and drugs of abuse. D. Retaining a DNA blood sample. E. Submitting a normal kidney to a research laboratory upon lab request. - answerSubmitting a normal kidney to a research laboratory upon lab request. Your case file is subpoenaed by a local defense attorney. You have placed your investigative field notes in the subpoenaed file. You must A. turn over a complete copy of the case file as is. B. purge the case file of all extraneous data (including notes) before you release it. C. make a copy of and retain your notes before you release the original file. D. make a second case file and retain it in your office. E. start a second file. - answerturn over a complete copy of the case file as is. Documenting items collected during an investigation helps in A. protecting the chain of custody. B. training new investigators with hands-on experience. C. allowing a walk-through of the scene to go more smoothly. D. keeping the investigator busy with the scene, not allowing distraction. E. making collection of evidence easier during Miranda. - answerprotecting the chain of custody. You arrive at the scene and discover a body in advanced decomposition. Circumstantial evidence obtained from the apartment manager suggests that the victim is middle-aged, has no criminal record, is edentulous, and had a history of debilitating headaches. The Page4 body is severely decomposed, with desiccated fingers, and cannot be visibly identified with a driver's license recovered at the scene. What next step should you