ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

Inhibition of Ethanol Production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Human Blood by Sodium Fluoride
Amick, GD
Forensic toxicologist and chief toxicologist, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, SC

Habben, KH
Forensic toxicologist and chief toxicologist, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, SC

(Received 15 July 1996; accepted 11 November 1996)

Abstract

Production of ethanol in antemortem blood samples inoculated with an efficient ethanol-producing microorganism and incubated at various temperatures is discussed. Whole blood samples inoculated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae were incubated in gray stoppered Venoject® tubes (approximate draw volume 7 mL) containing sodium fluoride (17.5 mg) and potassium oxalate (14.0 mg) at 4°C, 25°C, and 37°C for 0, 24, 96, 192, and 408 h. No volatile substances (such as ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, acetone, or acetaldehyde) (<0.010 g/dL) were produced in any of the samples at 4 or 25°C. At 24 h incubation a trace amount (<0.018 g/dL) of ethanol was detected at 37°C.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic toxicology, ethanol, driving under the influence, in vitro fermentation, antemortem

Paper ID: JFS14184J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14184J
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