ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 November 2002
Page Count: 3

A Comparison of Carboxyhemoglobin Saturation Values in Postmortem Heart Blood and Peripheral Blood Specimens
Levine, B
Chief Toxicologist, Deputy Chief Toxicologist, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, and Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, MD

Fowler, D
Chief Toxicologist, Deputy Chief Toxicologist, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, and Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, MD

Titus, JM
Chief Toxicologist, Deputy Chief Toxicologist, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, and Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, MD

Moore, KA
Chief Toxicologist, Deputy Chief Toxicologist, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, and Chief Medical Examiner, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, MD

(Received 14 June 2002; accepted 22 May 2002)

Abstract

The following is a study conducted to determine whether there was any significant difference in carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) saturation levels between the heart blood and blood collected from a peripheral site. The average heart blood to peripheral blood COHb saturation level ratio in the 42 cases studied was 1.09. Sixty-two percent (26 of 42) of the cases had a heart blood to peripheral blood ratio between 0.9 and 1.1; 74% (31 of 42) had a ratio between 0.8 and 1.2. Eighty-three percent (35 of 42) had a ratio between 0.7 and 1.3. There were four cases where the heart blood to peripheral blood ratio was either below 0.6 or greater than 1.4. The differences between the two sites were not statistically significant.

Keywords:
forensic science, carbon monoxide, postmortem blood, site dependence

Paper ID: JFS15580J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15580J
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