Effect of Temperature and Preservative on Neo-ethanol Formation in Postmortem Whole Blood Samples

To determine the association of temperature, time duration, and preservatives with ethanol neo-genesis in postmortem whole blood samples. Observational cross-sectional study. Department of Chemical Pathology and Toxicology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from August 2020 to January 2021. Whole blood samples were obtained from cardiac chamber of an autopsy case with aseptic measures and were drawn into six tubes (3 x EDTA tubes and 3 x NaF tubes). These six tubes were stored at 4˚C, 25˚C, and 37˚C. All samples were analysed along with internal standard, on head space gas-chromatography on Day-0, Day-07, Day-14, Day-21, and Day-28 of sampling. A total of 60 samples out of 10 autopsies, were analysed. Blood alcohol concentrations of all samples were negative on 1st day (Day-0) of analysis. Samples stored at 4˚C did not produce any ethanol at any day of analysis, regardless of preservatives used. Neo-ethanol levels of blood samples stored in EDTA preservative were significantly raised (p