THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ALCOHOL AND SUGAR DETERMINATIONS IN AUTOPSY BLOOD

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Abstract
The significance of glucose and alcohol concentrations In blood samples taken at autopsy, as indices of the concentration of these substances In the blood immediately before death, has been studied at 500 autopsies ordered by the Coroner in Geelong during the period 1965 to 1969. The study shows that there is no “normal” range for blood‐sugar levels determined by the Folin and Wu colorimetric method, or for glucose concentrations determined by a specific glucose‐oxidase enzymatic method. Concentrations of glucose greater than 500 mg/100 ml are not uncommonly present In blood samples taken from the heart at autopsy on non‐diabetic deceased persons. The study also showed that blood‐alcohol concentrations greater than 0–150% can be generated by microorganisms from glucose present in contaminated blood samples kept at room temperature for four days. A concentration of 0–2% sodium fluoride was found unreliable as a preservative for autopsy blood samples.

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