Coroners want outsourcing of toxicology testing to be considered

The toxicology department tests for the presence of drugs, alcohol, or gases such as carbon monoxide in deaths for the Coroner Service and for criminal investigations and inquests. File picture: Robbie Reynolds

Coroners have questioned whether toxicology testing should be outsourced to the private sector as delays at the State laboratory are set to continue for more than a year.

Currently, the turnaround time for toxicology results stands at 160 days, having increased from 110 days since June and from 93 days in March.