Three new contaminants detected in postmortem blood samples

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Postmortem blood sample analysis is crucial for forensic investigations.
• Contamination during sample storage can compromise analytical results.
• Glass bottles with rubber seals are commonly used for sample preservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify contaminants present in postmortem blood samples.
• To determine the origin of identified contaminants.
• To assess the impact of storage materials on sample integrity.

Main Methods:

• Drug screening of postmortem blood samples.
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for contaminant identification.
• Chemical analysis of rubber seals to trace contaminant sources.

Main Results:

• Three distinct contaminants were identified in the postmortem blood samples.
• Two contaminants, cyanoethyl dimethyldithiocarbamate and N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine, originated from the rubber seals of the storage bottles.
• A third contaminant, a mixture of aryl phosphates similar to tritolyl phosphate, was detected, but its origin is unknown.

Conclusions:

• Rubber seals in storage bottles can be a source of sample contamination.
• Aryl phosphates represent an unidentified contaminant in postmortem blood samples.
• Further investigation is required to determine the source of aryl phosphate contamination.