Homicide by insulin administration

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Endocrinology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Homicide investigations may involve assessing exogenous insulin administration.
• Accurate detection of insulin in biological samples is crucial for forensic toxicology.
• Standard laboratory storage protocols for serum samples often involve freezing.

Observation:

• A case of homicide by insulin administration is presented.
• The stability of insulin in serum under various storage conditions was investigated.
• Insulin demonstrated significant stability when stored at refrigerator temperatures.

Findings:

• Insulin in serum is remarkably stable at refrigerator temperatures (4°C).
• Freezing is not essential for preserving insulin integrity in serum for forensic analysis.
• Immunoassay data for insulin remain interpretable even with non-standard serum storage (refrigeration).

Implications:

• Refrigerated serum storage is a viable option for preserving insulin for forensic analysis.
• This finding simplifies sample handling in forensic toxicology, potentially reducing costs and logistical challenges.
• The stability data support the reliability of insulin immunoassay results in cases of suspected insulin-induced homicide.