NCJ Number
123876
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 35 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1990) Pages: 243-270
Date Published
1990
Length
28 pages
Annotation
The dependence of postmortem blood-drug concentrations on the collection site and on the postmortem interval before specimen collection has been studied.
Abstract
These studies consisted of both sequential sampling from the same collection site at defined time intervals and a comparison of the drug concentrations of postmortem blood studied simultaneously collected from various sites. A site and time dependence was observed for postmortem blood-drug concentrations. The heart blood-drug concentrations were, in general, significantly higher than those of peripheral specimens. As a result of this phenomenon, the analysis of peripheral blood specimens and solid tissues is often necessary before a definitive interpretation of postmortem toxicological analyses is possible. 9 tables, 26 references. (Author abstract)