Bucks County is set to become one of just four counties in the nation with a cutting-edge rapid toxicology analyzer device that can provide results in just 31 minutes. The news was shared by Bucks County Coroner Patti Campi during a recent meeting with the County Commissioners, who granted approval for the purchase of the device after Campi requested $79,800 for it.
The Randox rapid toxicology analyzer will help reduce the number of overdose autopsies conducted by the Bucks County coroner’s office, which has been struggling financially due to the high number of overdose deaths in recent years. Funding for the device will come from Bucks County’s $45 million allotment of the national opioid lawsuit settlement. While it may take a few weeks to arrive, Campi is already planning on how to implement it alongside the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office to streamline the process of toxicology testing and notifying families of their loved one’s cause of death more quickly.
With this new technology, the Bucks County Coroner’s Office hopes to enhance efficiency by reducing the need for autopsies and saving money that can be used to hire more staff. The device will also enable authorities to target specific areas where deadly drugs are prevalent in collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office. Campi described this new technology as a game-changer that will provide families with peace of mind and improve overall operations within the coroner’s office.
Bucks County will join Lehigh County, Charleston, S.C., and King County in Washington State near Seattle as one of only four counties in the country with this cutting-edge technology. With its speed and accuracy, this rapid toxicology analyzer has already proven to be an essential tool for law enforcement agencies across North America.
