Gastric contamination of postmortem blood samples during blind-stick sample collection

A blood sample drawn by a blind stick through the chest was collected for toxicologic examination in a suspected natural death. Drug screen results on the blood sample indicated a combined overdose of alcohol and amitriptyline. An autopsy was later performed and a peripheral blood sample was drawn. A drug screen of this sample showed the presence of therapeutic quantities of amitriptyline and a trace of alcohol. Cytologic examination of the blind-stick sample showed the presence of columnar cells and food debris, confirming that the sample was contaminated either by stomach contents or gastric aspirate during the collection procedure. We strongly encourage all agencies to refrain from the use of blind-stick sample collection for toxicologic specimens.