State of Maryland

A Serologist Post Mortem, Board Certified is the full performance level of work conducting serology testing to identify toxic substances in biological specimens to assist Medical Examiners in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in determining the cause of death.  A Serologist, Board Certified may testify in court on any of the work done in the toxicology laboratory.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Chief Toxicologist, Post Mortem.  Employees in this classification may be required to work evenings and on the weekends.  The work is performed in a laboratory setting at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Serologist Post Mortem, Board Certified is differentiated from the Serologist Post Mortem, Non-Board Certified in that the Serologist Post Mortem, Board Certified is certified by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology and, therefore, can testify in  courts of law on the work performed in the laboratory while the Serologist Post Mortem, Non-Board Certified is not certified, cannot testify in court and performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Ensures the collection of DNA specimens for medical examiner cases;

Ensures that specimens collected for DNA testing and blood testing are forwarded to a referenced laboratory in proper storage conditions with appropriate documentation;

Ensures that all in-house testing is performed according to established standards;

Analyzes specimens for alkaline extractable drugs by gas chromatography and confirms positive findings by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in accordance with the Toxicology Laboratory's Standard Operating Procedures Manual;

Analyzes specimens for acid/neutral drugs by gas chromatography or color test and confirms positive findings by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry or high performance liquid chromatography in accordance with the Laboratory's Standard Operating Procedures Manual;

Analyzes specimens for morphine by radioimmunoassay and confirms positive findings by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in accordance with the Laboratory's Standard Operating Procedures Manual;

Analyzes specimens for alcohol by gas chromatography and by enzymatic reaction in accordance with the Toxicology Laboratory's Standard Operating Procedures Manual;

Performs specialty testing on case or research specimens under the direction of the Chief Toxicologist;

Accesses toxicology specimens received from autopsy room and through the mail in accordance with the Laboratory's Standards Operating Procedures Manual;

Testifies in court on any of the work done in the laboratory;

Maintains overall cleanliness of the laboratory area;

Performs other related duties.

Specific educational and experience requirements are set by the agency based on the essential job functions assigned to the position. Employees in this classification are hired by the State Postmortem Examiners Commission in accordance with the Health General Article, Section 5-305 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Employees in this classification must be certified as a Diplomate Forensic Toxicology by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology. The board may be contacted at P.O. Box 669, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-0669.

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.