NCJ Number
138336
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 37 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1992) Pages: 991-998
Date Published
1992
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Ethanol was determined by gas chromatography in various tissues and body fluids secured at autopsy in 61 cases, but statistical analysis revealed no significant differences among the blood sites tested.
Abstract
Criteria for selection of the 61 cases included a presence of ethanol at a mean blood concentration of 0.05 percent or greater, absence of gross body trauma, absence of significant decompositional changes, and complete autopsy. Samples were prepared for analysis by diluting 1 part body fluid with 10 parts of 0.02 percent aqueous n-propanol as the internal standard. Tissues were treated in a similar manner by homogenization with the diluent. Ethanol concentrations were determined from a previously constructed aqueous calibration curve. Although statistical analysis of the cases indicated no major differences among the blood sites tested, variations in blood ethanol concentrations among the sampling sites within each case occurred. Forty cases showed differences of less than 25 percent, 16 cases revealed variability between 25 percent and 50 percent, and 4 cases had differences exceeding 50 percent. In one case, satisfactory blood analysis could not be accomplished. Larger variances occurred especially in those instances in which stomach alcohol concentration was 0.50 percent or greater. Various areas of the brain differed significantly in their alcohol content. For example, frontal lobe or gray matter exceeded medulla or white matter in alcohol. Liver alcohol concentrations were substantially and consistently lower than any other site. Perhaps the most constant finding was the high degree of correlation between bile and mean blood values. Additional research is recommended to help forensic toxicologists interpret postmortem alcohol results. 14 references, 2 tables, and 1 figure