The Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT) is the premier international toxicology journal devoted to the timely dissemination of scientific communications concerning analyses and interpretation of impairing and toxic substances in biological matrices with an emphasis on their applications to clinical and forensic toxicology. Since its inception in 1977, the Journal of Analytical Toxicology has striven to support authors and researchers within the field of toxicology and publishing high quality articles to support and expand toxicological research. A subscription to the Journal of Analytical Toxicology is included in SOFT membership (value $1,402 per year). JAT is published by Oxford University Press (OUP).

All address updates need to be submitted to the SOFT office so we can update your mailing address with JAT, please submit your address update below:

JAT Special Issue

SOFT's Publications Committee works with the Oxford University Press (OUP) to ensure the Journal meets the needs of the organization. One of the committee members will also serve as the Special Issue Editor for one year. The JAT Special Issue Editor solicits papers from the SOFT membership and selects SOFT members to serve as reviewers of the submitted manuscripts. The Special Issue Editor works closely with the staff of OUP to see that a timely and sound peer review process is followed for all articles published in the Special Issue.

The JAT Special Issue Editor solicits papers from the SOFT membership and selects SOFT members to serve as reviewers of the submitted manuscripts. The Special Issue Editor works closely with the staff of OUP to see that a timely and sound peer review process is followed for all articles published in the Special Issue. Multiple reviewers review each paper submitted for consideration. At least one author of each paper considered for the Special Issue must be a member of SOFT.

The Experimental Design and Impact on Toxicology (EDIT) Award was established in February 2009. The Publication Committee is responsible for selecting the winner of the EDIT Award. The award is for the paper published in the Special Issue that is deemed to have the largest impact upon toxicology. The award is presented to the first author of the paper. All accepted manuscripts in which the lead author is a SOFT member will be eligible for consideration. The award is a plaque with no monetary attachment.

Message from the 2023 Special Issue Editor

I am grateful that the incoming SOFT president, Erin Spargo, has put her trust in me to be the Guest Editor for the 2023 SOFT Special Issue of JAT in conjunction with the annual meeting in Denver 2023.

I attended the Cleveland meeting in spirit only because staffing concerns kept me away. Remembering the 2021 meeting in Nashville, I was honored to present at the Young Forensic Toxicologists Symposium where I discussed the importance of making the time for forensic toxicology research. I asked the question, “Will there ever be adequate funding and staff for research within government forensic labs?” In our lab, we currently have limited time within our 40-hour work week to experiment with novel ideas and write manuscripts, yet that additional time can often be the most gratifying and motivating. We have contributed to the SOFT Special Issue in the past, and it is now my time to ask a favor of the ToxTalk readers. Will you find the time to research a forensic problem, explain a novel method, or write a case study? Can you collaborate with a fellow SOFT member(s)?

My final thoughts are to embrace the process by keeping deadlines in mind (see below), while not getting discouraged. Seek out words of encouragement. Try to prevent stress and burnout by taking breaks and by using the team approach rather than shouldering the responsibility as a lone author. I could not have survived the challenging summer (and now fall) without the incredible team at the NC Toxicology Lab, so please work together on a common goal. We are all resilient and capable of great things, even in difficult times!

Thank you in advance for your consideration to either submit a manuscript or help in the review process. Please remember that all accepted manuscripts in which the first author is a SOFT member will be eligible for the 2023 Experimental Design and Impact on Toxicology (EDIT) award for outstanding content and wide impact on forensic toxicology.

I am excited to receive and review your submissions and (finally) see you in person in Denver.

Take care!
Sandra C. Bishop-Freeman, Ph.D.
Interim Chief Toxicologist
North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (NC OCME

Why publish in JAT?

JAT is managed by the editorial board of highly established scientists and has the support of TIAFT and SOFT, reflecting the backing and global reach of a vast community of forensic toxicology experts.

JAT offers the option to publish open access thus compliant with funder, institutional, and national mandates that require publication of open access articles.
We are published by Oxford University Press, a not-for-profit organization. Your publication fees help support conferences, workshops and other initiatives organized by the journal.

We are committed to equitable and ethical publishing and follow the COPE guidelines.

High-quality and effective peer review

The Journal of Analytical Toxicology has always worked towards high-quality and effective peer review to provide authors thoughtful feedback from highly qualified toxicology scientists with knowledge of their research area. Effective January 1, 2023, JAT will be moving to double-anonymized peer review. This process is meant to not only yield the highest-quality content for the journal, but also to help authors develop and improve their submissions.

Open access option for your articles

The Journal of Analytical Toxicology has the option to publish your articles as open access, providing greater accessibility for researchers and readers across the globe. Learn more about the open access licenses available at OUP.

OUP has a growing number of Read and Publish agreements with institutions and consortia that provide funding for OA publishing. This means that authors from participating institutions can publish OA, and the institution will pay the APC charge. Find out if your institution is participating in a Read and Publish agreement.

Community focused

Each year JAT publishes Special Issues in tandem with SOFT and TIAFT and their annual meetings. Guest Editors are selected from the societies with the Special Issues taking on a focus from topics presented in the conference discussions. The journal encourages submissions from the communities around these societies to highlight their work.

JAT is highly active on Twitter in its efforts to engage with toxicologists and disseminate the latest research in the field. Follow the journal's official Twitter account.

Distinguished and diverse Editorial Board

Members of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Analytical Toxicology are recruited and appointed based on their expertise in the field and to provide geographic and demographic balance. They ensure that the journal publishes high-quality content, operates ethically, and provides a welcoming publishing outlet for authors from all backgrounds and at all stages of career.

Ready to submit?

Please refer to our instructions to authors for more information and our submission site if you are ready to submit.

JAT is the official journal for the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), as well as The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT)