[Detectability of poisons in paraffin-embedded organ parts]

The detectability of metals and drugs in histological organ parts embedded in paraffin was tested in 24 cases, which had been analyzed before. The liver, kidney and brain parts were separated from the paraffin by heating the paraffin up to 110 degrees C and were homogenized by means of Ultra-Turrax blendor and ultrasound. Analysis was realized using gas chromatography, atomic absorption and mass spectrometry. Only 1.5%-4% of the original quantities of metals (As, Tl, Hg) was found in the embedded organs. Drugs could not be detected except for a low percentage of phenobarbital (2 cases) and bromine (3 cases). Reliable estimations cannot be made about the concentrations in the organs before the embedding procedure.