The diagnosis and subsequent prosecution of Munchausen by proxy (MBP) cases requires
the collaborative teamwork of health care teams, laboratory personnel, law enforcement,
and social services. Poisoning occurs in a significant number of the MBP cases with
a diverse variety of agents used. To aid laboratory professionals in determining the
appropriate toxicology tests to perform in such criminal cases, health care professionals
must focus their testing requests on substances that correspond to the victim's signs,
symptoms, and ancillary test values. This article reviews MBP, with particular focus
on poisoning agents that have been used in past reported cases.
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