Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1-3
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-2-26
pubmed:abstractText
The interpretation of postmortem carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentrations can have major implications even when COHb is not the direct cause of death. Much litigation may hinge on the length of time an individual was alive during the fire. Therefore, the reliability of an analytical method to measure COHb, ranging from low to sub-lethal levels, is critical to the proper interpretation of results. This study used 40 blood specimens from fire deaths and 15 blood specimens from non-fire deaths to compare COHb levels obtained from a spectrophotometric method (IL 482 CO-Oximeter; CO-Ox) with a reference gas chromatographic method (GC). Since spectrophotometric methods are influenced by the amount of total hemoglobin (Hb) present in the blood, multiple saline dilutions of specimens were performed to yield Hb as low as 1g/dl. For GC COHb concentrations < 5% and Hb > or = 4g/dl, the average and median ratios of CO-Ox COHb to GC COHb concentrations were 2.8 and 2.6 respectively. These ratios were 8.0 and 6.8 respectively when Hb < 4g/dl. At GC COHb levels ranging from 5 to 40% and Hb > or = 4g/dl, the average and median ratios were 1.6 and 1.0 respectively. These ratios were correspondingly 2.1 and 1.9 when Hb < 4 g/dl. These data clearly indicate COHb can be influenced by the analytical methods used.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0300-483X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
31
pubmed:volume
115
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
129-34
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1996
pubmed:articleTitle
Methodologic considerations in the interpretation of postmortem carboxyhemoglobin concentrations.
pubmed:affiliation
Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC 20306-6000, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study