A modified method for the analysis of carbon monoxide in postmortem blood

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Toxicology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Carbon monoxide poisoning is a significant cause of death.
• Accurate quantification of carbon monoxide in postmortem blood is crucial for forensic investigations.
• Existing methods may have limitations in speed or accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simple spectrophotometric method for determining carbon monoxide (CO) in postmortem blood.
• To assess the method's suitability for forensic laboratory use.
• To compare the results with an established method.

Main Methods:

• Spectrophotometric analysis of postmortem blood samples.
• Duplicate determinations performed for accuracy.
• Assessment of interference from methemoglobin.

Main Results:

• The developed spectrophotometric method provides accurate carbon monoxide determination.
• Duplicate analyses are completed within approximately 15 minutes.
• The method is not affected by the presence of methemoglobin.

Conclusions:

• The described spectrophotometric method is simple, rapid, and accurate for carbon monoxide analysis in postmortem blood.
• Its robustness against methemoglobin interference makes it highly suitable for forensic applications.
• The method offers a viable alternative to existing techniques for postmortem CO determination.