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Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
Published on: March 9, 2021
Minimum time since death when the body has either reached or closely approximated equilibrium with ambient
S Potente1, M Kettner2, M A Verhoff2
1Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka City University, Medical School, Asahimachi 1-4-3, Abenoku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan; Department of Legal Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Medical School, Kennedyallee 104, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Abstract:
In temperature based death time estimation the construction of a death time interval using the conventional Nomogram method (NM) is not permissible for bodies in which rectal temperature (Tr) has reached or closely approximated equilibrium with ambient temperature (Ta). We provide a logic approach to compute a minimum time since death with high probability. We also provide a simple graphical solution to be used at the crime scene for preliminary estimation. Special attention is advised in regards to cases with Ta>23°C as well as borderline cases. Proof by induction, application to test cases and one example of use are presented.
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