Ethanol Concentrations in Antemortem Blood Samples Under Controlled Conditions
1,*2
1 Institute of Forensic Medicine, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 5-7, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
2 Institute of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Deligradska 31a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
3 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
* Corresponding author: Institute of Forensic Medicine, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 5-7, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia. Tel.: +381-21-420-189; Fax: +381-21-6611-374; E-mail: pstojan{at}eunet.yu
Received 6 May 2008; first review notified 30 June 2008; in revised form 8 July 2008; accepted 28 July 2008
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Abstract |
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Aim: The change of antemortem blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in inadequately processed samples was examined. Methods: The study was performed on nine healthy, sober volunteers after overnight fasting. Blood samples were divided into groups and stored, with or without NaF, for varying time periods (12, 24 and 48 h) and at different temperatures (4°C and 20°C). BAC analysis was performed by the gas-chromatography method. Result: All groups showed very low values of BAC. Conclusion: Surprisingly, this study showed no ethanol production in improperly processed antemortem blood samples in healthy and sober individuals who were subjected to overnight fasting.