Ether: stability in preserved blood samples and a case of ether-assisted suicide

Ethyl ether was detected in the blood of a deceased individual who had inhaled it from a mask while hanging himself. This case led to an investigation into the stability of ether in stored blood samples as described herein. Ether was spiked, at three concentrations, into batches of porcine blood. The blood was apportioned into grey-stoppered collection tubes and stored refrigerated until analysis. The concentration of ether in the blood was assessed at intervals over a two-month period. Analysis was performed by headspace gas chromatography. This study has shown, for a concentration range of 0.1 to 5.0 mg/mL, ether is stable in preserved, refrigerated blood for at least two months.