MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY IN ETHANOL CONCENTRATIONS

Yıl 2017, Cilt: Volume 2 Sayı: İssue 1 (1) - 2.İnternational Congress Of Forensic Toxicology, 50 - 50, 16.02.2017

Serpil Erdogan , Orhan Sen Ceylan Bal Dilek Oztas Gamze Avcıoglu Pervin Baran Ozcan Erel

Öz

Uncertainty is a parameter associated with the result of a
measurement that characterizes the dispersion of the values that could
reasonably be attributed to the measurand. In this study, we aimed to calculate
measurement uncertainty in ethanol test which is an important analytical
determination required to assess whether an offence has been committed.

Serum ethanol levels were analyzed by Roche Cobas Integra
800. Uncertainty was calculated according to NORDEST guideline. Additionally,
to investigate effect of uncertainty on patient results we screened all patient
data between October 2015 and March 2016.

Measurement uncertainty in ethanol was 12.25%. The number of
patients measured ethanol between October 2015 and March 2016 was 1178. Eight
hundred and eighty-two of them were male, while 296 of them female. Two hundred
and eighty of them were over the detection limit of ethanol testing according
to instruction manual. Twenty-five of them were below the legal limit of 50
mg/dL for our country, while two hundred and fifty-five of them were over the
legal limit for our country.

For ethanol, uncertainty value was below total allowable
error (%25). As a new concept in forensic medicine, measurement uncertainty is
a parameter to be calculated. Because accurate measurement of blood–ethanol
concentration is very important with respect to forensic evidence, to inform
high levels of conclusiveness in forensic and laboratory medicine and in
related lawsuits.

Our study may help satisfy the need to develop more
appropriate standard practices for forensic science purposes.

Anahtar Kelimeler

MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY IN ETHANOL CONCENTRATIONS

Kaynakça

• Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ankara, Turkey
• Yildirim Beyazit University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ankara, Turkey
• Yildirim Beyazit University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Ankara, Turkey