Forensic and Scientific Services (FSS) is part of

Queensland Health Queensland Health is the public health system in Queensland, Australia, comprising sixteen statutory Hospital and Health Services (HHS), the Department of Health and Queensland Ambulance Service. Each HHS provides health services to its local ...

and provides specialist scientific and medical analysis and independent expert advice in the state of

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

, Australia. It is sometimes referred to as the

John Tonge Centre The John Tonge Centre is the mortuary for Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services (FSS - formerly Queensland Health Scientific Services) and responsible for conducting autopsies in Brisbane (and much of South-East Queensland in Austra ...

Services

Forensic and Scientific Services are part of the government response to threats to public health, threats to the environment, epidemics, civil emergencies, criminal investigations and coroners' inquiries into reportable deaths. Additionally they provide services to private and public sector clients in forensics, public health and environmental science. Services include: * Police services **

DNA profiling DNA profiling (also called DNA fingerprinting and genetic fingerprinting) is the process of determining an individual's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) characteristics. DNA analysis intended to identify a species, rather than an individual, is cal ...

, **identification of deceased persons, **

Forensic chemistry Forensic chemistry is the application of chemistry and its subfield, forensic toxicology, in a legal setting. A forensic chemist can assist in the identification of unknown materials found at a crime scene. Specialists in this field have a wid ...

services including blood alcohol and drug analysis, **evidence examinations and reporting **clandestine laboratory analysis. * Forensic and Coronial services **

Autopsy An autopsy (also referred to as post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of deat ...

to determine cause and circumstances of death, **

Mortuary A morgue or mortuary (in a hospital or elsewhere) is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification (ID), removal for autopsy, respectful burial, cremation or other methods of disposal. In modern times, corpses have cus ...

counselling Counseling is the professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes. This is a list of c ...

services to bereaved families, coronial pathology and toxicology services and investigation of sudden or suspicious death. These services are located in the

. **forensic testing for alcohol and drugs **advice on human ethics and tissue donation. *Clinical Forensic Medicine **examinations and treatment of victims and alleged perpetrators of crime. *Public and Environmental Health ** Inorganic Chemistry analyse metals and elements in environmental samples such as water, soil, sediment, food, blood, urine and other biological tissues. ** Organic Chemistry provide testing, analysis and advice on a range of issues including: residues and

contaminants Contamination is the presence of a constituent, impurity, or some other undesirable element that renders something unsuitable, unfit or harmful for the physical body, natural environment, workplace, etc. Types of contamination Within the scie ...

, algal identification, food testing, molecular and chemical testing, air monitoring. ** Radiation and Nuclear Sciences provide radiation science-based solutions including advisory and measurement services, radiation surveys and sample collection, baseline mapping, surveillance and monitoring programs, calibration of measuring instruments, regulatory surveillance monitoring, investigation and reporting on radiation incidents. ** Microbiology provide investigations, analysis, molecular epidemiology, diagnostic services and advice on bacterial outbreaks in

food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for Nutrient, nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or Fungus, fungal origin and contains essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, protein (nutrient), proteins, vitamins, ...

and

water Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...

. The Public Health Microbiology laboratories also house the

Leptospirosis Leptospirosis is a blood infection caused by the bacterium ''Leptospira'' that can infect humans, dogs, rodents and many other wild and domesticated animals. Signs and symptoms can range from none to mild (headaches, Myalgia, muscle pains, a ...

and bacterial pathogens reference libraries. ** Virology provide diagnostic and references services for viral and rickettsial diseases such as

Coronavirus Coronaviruses are a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans and birds, they cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild illnesses in humans include some cases of the comm ...

Zika virus Zika virus (ZIKV; pronounced or ) is a member of the virus family ''Flaviviridae''. It is spread by daytime-active ''Aedes'' mosquitoes, such as '' A. aegypti'' and '' A. albopictus''. Its name comes from the Ziika Forest of Uganda, where ...

Measles Measles (probably from Middle Dutch or Middle High German ''masel(e)'', meaning "blemish, blood blister") is a highly contagious, Vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by Measles morbillivirus, measles v ...

Dengue fever Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by dengue virus, prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. Asymptomatic infections are uncommon, mild cases happen frequently; if symptoms appear, they typically begin 3 to 14 days after i ...

Norovirus Norovirus, also known as Norwalk virus and sometimes referred to as the winter vomiting disease, is the most common cause of gastroenteritis. Infection is characterized by non-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Fever or headaches may ...

and

Influenza Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These sympto ...

Research and development

The research and development undertaken at FSS is focused into two areas: Public and Environmental Health and Forensic Sciences. Forensic and Scientific Services have an extensive collection of reference and clinical samples. External researchers can apply to access coronial and non-coronial biological data

References in the media

Forensic and Scientific Services is often, and incorrectly, referred to by news media as the

. The John Tonge Centre refers specifically to the mortuary.

References

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External links

Queensland Health

Queensland Health, Forensic and Scientific Services

Forensic and Scientific Services Annual research report

Careers at Forensic and Scientific Services
1989 establishments in Australia Medical and health organisations based in Queensland Buildings and structures in Brisbane Government agencies of Queensland

Services

Research and development

References in the media

See also

References

External links