Advancing forensic accuracy: mitigating methemoglobin interference in postmortem carbon monoxide analysis using
Miyeon Lee1, Doyeon Lee2, Young-Hoon Jo3
1Daejeon District Office, National Forensic Service, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea. leemiyeon0701@korea.kr.
Sodium dithionite treatment reduces overestimation of carbon monoxide (CO) in spleen tissue. This method improves postmortem CO quantification accuracy, especially in samples with methemoglobin (MetHb) from decomposition.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Biochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Accurate postmortem carbon monoxide (CO) analysis is vital.
- Methemoglobin (MetHb) formation during decomposition can inhibit CO binding, leading to inaccurate results.
- Reducing agents can convert MetHb back to hemoglobin (HHb).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of sodium dithionite (a reducing agent) on CO analysis in spleen tissue.
- To determine if MetHb affects CO quantification in postmortem samples.
- To enhance the accuracy of postmortem CO measurements.
Main Methods:
- Spleen samples from 60 autopsy cases were divided into control and reduced groups.
- Reduced samples were treated with 0.574 M sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4).
- Both groups were analyzed using Gas Chromatography with a Thermal Conductivity Detector (GC-TCD).
Main Results:
- 48 cases showed significantly lower CO levels in reduced samples (median difference 13.83%).
- 12 cases showed minimal difference (median difference 0.67%).
- MetHb formation during decomposition was confirmed to inhibit CO binding.
Conclusions:
- MetHb significantly interferes with postmortem CO quantification in spleen tissue.
- Sodium dithionite treatment corrects for MetHb inhibition, improving accuracy.
- This method is crucial for reliable postmortem CO analysis, especially in putrefied samples.
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