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Sawyer County medical examiner cites toxicology backlog; records show methamphetamine overdose among recent cases
Summary
The county medical examiner reported a backlog at the state toxicology lab, one recent overdose case involving methamphetamine rather than fentanyl, and said the office is tracking 29 active death investigations.
Mr. Brammer, who presented the medical examiner report, told the committee the office is tracking 29 active death cases and that toxicology results have been delayed because the state laboratory is undergoing certification.
"I finally got 1 of my toxicology back from January. And it it was an overdose, but it wasn't a fentanyl overdose. So it was methamphetamine overdose," Brammer said. He told the committee the state lab’s certification process is affecting turnaround times for toxicology testing.
Brammer provided trend context: while fentanyl still appears in some blood draws, the office has seen fewer fentanyl‑positive toxicology results recently. He also said the average age of the deaths his office reviews is around 75 years.
Why it matters: delayed toxicology results can slow death investigations and coroners’ reporting. Brammer flagged the laboratory certification process as the reason for slower toxicology turnarounds and noted substance‑specific findings in recent cases.
Ending: The committee received the report and asked no immediate follow‑up questions according to the transcript.
