# Need help understanding a toxicology report **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 2, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-understanding-a-toxicology-report/541688 "2010-06-02T20:32:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-understanding-a-toxicology-report/541688/1 "2010-06-02T20:32:57Z")
This is part of a toxicology report from an autopsy of someone I knew slightly, who died in a car crash: > [@](#): > > The following were detected: > 22 mg/dL ethanol in muscle > No ethanol in liver > 1 mg/dL n-propanol in muscle > 0.126 ug/ml nordiazapam in kidney > 0.104 ug/ml nordiazepam in liver > 0.0420 ug/ml tetrahydrocannabinol in kidney > 0.0168 ug/ml tetrahydrocannabinol in muscle > 0.0537 ug/ml tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid in kidney > 0.0219 ug/ml tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid in liver Can any qualified dopers comment on what these levels mean? To what extent was this guy incapacitated by alcohol/drugs? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-understanding-a-toxicology-report/541688/2 "2010-06-04T01:34:14Z")
I’m allowed one bump - yes? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-understanding-a-toxicology-report/541688/3 "2010-06-04T02:13:53Z")
Most numbers seem to be hidden behind paywalls. However, [NORML has a bit](http://www.canorml.org/healthfacts/drivingstudy_new.htm) on THC blood levels and driving: > [@](#): > > According to previous studies of on-road crash data, past use of cannabis (as indicated by the presence of marijuana metabolites in the urine) is not associated with an elevated risk of accident. By contrast, drivers who test positive for THC in the blood above 5 ng/ml (indicating recent use of pot) are typically associated with an elevated risk of accident > compared to drivers who test negative for cannabis and/or test positive for very low levels of THC in the blood. > > THC blood levels typically fall below 5 ng/ml in recreational (non-chronic) cannabis users within 60 to 120 minutes after inhalation. Also see [this pdf](http://www.idmu.co.uk/pdfs/drugtest.pdf). Your “0.0420 ug/ml tetrahydrocannabinol in kidney” is 42 ng/ml, a **large** number. ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-understanding-a-toxicology-report/541688/4 "2010-06-04T02:38:31Z")
> [@](#): > > 0.126 ug/ml nordiazapam in kidney > 0.104 ug/ml nordiazepam in liver Nordiazepam is an active metabolite to Diazepam, a drug in the Benzo class. The therapeutic levels of nordiazapam is between 0.1mcg/ml to 0.5mcg/ml… So, he was taking diazepam (or one of the other benzos that also metabolize to this metabolite), and was currently within therapeutic levels… However, Benzos and Alcohol have a synergistic effect, where the effect of each is greater then it would be for either alone. Hope that helps! ---
**Author:** ![Sinisterniik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Sinisterniik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinisterniik)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-understanding-a-toxicology-report/541688/5 "2010-06-04T03:01:36Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Most numbers seem to be hidden behind paywalls. However, [NORML has a bit](http://www.canorml.org/healthfacts/drivingstudy_new.htm) on THC blood levels and driving: Also see [this pdf](http://www.idmu.co.uk/pdfs/drugtest.pdf). > > Your “0.0420 ug/ml tetrahydrocannabinol in kidney” is 42 ng/ml, a **large** number. Thanks for the link -interesting reading. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-understanding-a-toxicology-report/541688/6 "2010-06-04T03:20:01Z")
A curiosity question for someone who may know- why is there alcohol in the muscle but not in the liver?