Storage Conditions for Blood Samples, for Later Analysis in Criminal Prosecution

Year 2018, Volume: 3 Issue: 4, 60 - 67, 31.12.2018

Serpil Erdogan , Ozcan Erel , Orhan Sen Gamze Avcioglu Ceylan Bal , Pervin Baran

Abstract

Backround: Aim
of this study was to demonstrate the stability of blood–ethanol concentration
over a storage period. The precise storage time during which ethanol can be
reliably measured in frozen blood samples is unknown. 

Materials and Methods: In study A, samples were thawed and reanalyzed for ethanol
content; their storage time since the first analysis ranged from one to 295
days. The percent difference between the first and second ethanol measurements
was calculated as lost ethanol (%). For study B, the ethanol concentrations of
34 samples were measured within 180 days of, and at a randomly selected
interval from, the working day. 

Results: In
study A, the calculated lost ethanol values ranged from 1% to 30%. There was no
correlation between the calculated ethanol values and the measures on the
second ethanol analysis day. A significant difference was detected between the
two analyses in study B (p: 0.01).

Conclusions: It
was concluded that blood samples to be analyzed for ethanol concentration can
be stored at –80°C for many months, with no loss of concentration provided that
analysis is undertaken as promptly as possible and blood samples are frozen as
soon after collection as possible.

Keywords

Ethanol, stability, forensic medicine

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