Journal Published Online: 01 November 1988
Volume 33, Issue 6

Cardiac Blood pH as a Possible Indicator of Postmortem Interval

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Postmortem changes in the pH of blood and selected tissues in rats were evaluated at intervals ranging from 2 min to 96 h. Cardiac blood pH was significantly and reproducibly decreased in all groups at all postmortem intervals, independent of the method of sacrifice used. A preliminary study using cardiac blood obtained at autopsy from a limited number (n = 11) of human subjects demonstrated a significant negative correlation (r = −0.908, P < 0.01) between postmortem interval (range 2 to 20 h) and cardiac blood pH.

Author Information

Sawyer, WR
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Steup, DR
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Martin, BS
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Forney, RB
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Pages: 6
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS12588J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12588J