Computer-Aided Headspace Gas Chromatography Applied to Blood-Alcohol Analysis: Importance of Online Process Control

• NCJ Number: 123903
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 34 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1989) Pages: 1116-1127
• Author(s): A W Jones; J Schuberth
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The analysis of ethanol in blood specimens from suspect drunk drivers and the associated quality assurance procedures currently used in Sweden for legal purposes are described.

Abstract

Aliquots of whole blood from two separate Vacutainer tubes are diluted with 1-propanol as an internal standard before analysis by headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) with three different stationary phases; Carbopak B, Carbopak C, and 15 percent Carbowax 20M. Computer-aided techniques are used for the actual HS-GC analysis, the integration of chromatographic peaks, the collection and processing of results, and the quality control tests. The standard deviation of analysis (y) increased with concentration of ethanol in the blood specimen (x). The prosecution blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) is the mean of three separate determinations, each made by different laboratory technicians working independently with different sets of equipment. To compensate for random and systematic errors inherent in the method, a deduction from the mean analytical result is made. 6 figures, 3 tables, 16 references. (Author abstract modified)