Exhibit 5.1



                                August 30, 2000


MEDTOX Scientific, Inc.
1238 Anthony Road
Burlington, NC 27215

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to MEDTOX Scientific, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the  "Company") in connection  with a  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration  Statement")  filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission
under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  relating to the sale of up to
1,319,382  shares  of common  stock of the  Company,  par  value  $.15 per share
("Common Stock"), of which all such shares will be sold from time to time by the
Selling Shareholders named in the Registration  Statement, on the American Stock
Exchange or otherwise, directly or through underwriters, brokers or dealers.

     We have examined such  documents and have reviewed such questions of law as
we have  considered  necessary and  appropriate for the purposes of our opinions
set forth below.  In rendering our opinions set forth below, we have assumed the
authenticity of all documents  submitted to us as originals,  the genuineness of
all  signatures  and the  conformity  to authentic  originals  of all  documents
submitted  to us as copies.  We have also  assumed  the legal  capacity  for all
purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties
to agreements or instruments  relevant hereto other than the Company,  that such
parties had the  requisite  power and  authority  (corporate  or  otherwise)  to
execute,  deliver  and  perform  such  agreements  or  instruments,   that  such
agreements or  instruments  have been duly  authorized  by all requisite  action
(corporate or  otherwise),  executed and delivered by such parties and that such
agreements or instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable  obligations of
such parties.  As to questions of fact material to our opinions,  we have relied
upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials.

     Based on the  foregoing,  we are of the  opinion  that the shares of Common
Stock  which  have  been  issued  to the  Selling  Shareholders  have  been duly
authorized by all requisite corporate action and are validly issued,  fully paid
and  nonassessable and the shares of Common Stock which have not yet been issued
to the Selling Shareholders have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate
action and, upon issuance, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     Our opinions expressed above are limited to the general corporation laws of
the State of Delaware.



MEDTOX Scientific, Inc.
August 30, 2000
Page 2



     We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                FREDRIKSON & BYRON, P.A.




                                                By /s/ Robert R. Ribeiro
                                                   Robert R. Ribeiro