The Forensic Analysis Laboratory, through its forensic experts, offer testing on controlled substances and post-mortem toxicology.  The testing is offered to the Law Courts and also to individuals or agencies that would like to identify substances present in unknown powders, liquids, herbal materials and other matrices.  The controlled substances most commonly encountered in the laboratory are herbal cannabis, cannabis resin, heroin, cocaine and ecstasy.

Recently there has been an increase in New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) and further changes to drugs legislation, which has led to an increase in the variety of substances submitted to the laboratory for analysis.  As a result hundreds of different substances can be analysed by laboratory staff on an annual basis.

Apart from analysis carried out for the Law Courts, the Forensic Analysis Laboratory carries out research related solely to Forensic Science.  Research is focused on forensic drug analysis and forensic toxicology.  The laboratory also engages in other research activities with other departments at the University of Malta, namely the Department of Criminology and the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and also with other departments outside the University of Malta, namely the Malta Police Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).   

Forensic examination and analysis are conducted in the following areas: