NCJ Number
128087
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1991) Pages: 60-69
Date Published
1991
Length
10 pages
Annotation
In a random sample of medical examiner cases, drug and alcohol concentrations were obtained from skeletal muscle and compared with those obtained from blood samples.
Abstract
The ratio between muscle and blood concentration was dependent on the time course of absorption and distribution. The same phenomenon has been observed for vitreous humor, but with a more rapid equilibrium. The concentrations of drugs in muscle tissue was dependent on the time course between ingestion and death, as well as the nature of the drug. The author suggests use of muscle as an alternative to postmortem blood in alcohol and drug analyses.