Many toxicology reports for death inquests and police investigations are backlogged by three to four months, the government chemist said yesterday.
Dr Bryce Dailly said the aim was to complete tests in 33 days, but the average time taken was 80.
He said it had taken as long as 150 days a few years ago, before a meeting of coroners, police and magistrates decided that a little more than a month was 'what they felt was the time they would like'.
'But we aren't able to achieve that target because of resources, as always,' Dr Dailly said. 'Even if we had enough staff, some large-scale toxicology tests may take two months anyway - sometimes they have to test for up to 50,000 substances.' Depending on priority, tests were often not started immediately, he said.
Dr Dailly said two more staff would join the 140-member forensic pathology team shortly and the laboratory could 'move towards' its target by the end of 1998. However, the laboratory could use a further two professional staff to ensure tests were done on time consistently.
'Obviously coroners would like to have the results as quickly as possible - any delay is not suitable for them,' Dr Dailly said. 'The death inquest really needs a written report before any action can be taken.' He said police could be kept updated with verbal reports.