Evaluation of current derivative spectrophotometric methodology for the determination of percent carboxyhemoglobin saturation in postmortem blood samples

Carbon monoxide intoxication continues to be a commonly encountered cause of death in most areas of Canada. The forensic nature of the samples in these cases presents special problems that are not normally encountered in clinical determinations. A study was undertaken to assess various methods of determining the percent carboxyhemoglobin saturation in blood, more specifically, those using derivative spectrophotometric measurements in the Soret region of the UV spectrum. At the same time, other studies were carried out: the effects of storage time on the carboxyhemoglobin levels; evaluation of sample containers; comparison of percent carboxyhemoglobin saturation in blood samples taken ante-mortem and post-mortem. Blood for the study was obtained from laboratory animals that were exposed to carbon monoxide before death.