Determination of alcohol in postmortem blood samples using automated headspace gas chromatography – mass spectrometry / Saravanakumar Maniam

Maniam, Saravanakumar (2014) Determination of alcohol in postmortem blood samples using automated headspace gas chromatography – mass spectrometry / Saravanakumar Maniam. Masters thesis, University of Malaya.

[img]
Preview
PDF
Download (458Kb) | Preview
    [img]
    Preview
    PDF (Full Text)
    Download (1083Kb) | Preview

      Abstract

      Determination of ethanol in post mortem blood has become one of the important tool in medico legal investigation. The concentration of the ethanol upon dead in a person or alive has legal complication if it is more than permitted level. In Malaysia the level of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) permittable according Road Traffic Act 1987 is 0.08g/100ml of blood. Nonetheless the determination of ethanol concentration in fresh blood obtained from alcohol consumer post no significant problem whereas when the blood is obtained from dead person or post-mortem blood it validity is in questioned. Accurate interpretation of blood ethanol concentration at the time of death is a difficult task to obtain due to time and other environmental factor. A reliable and rapid method is required to overcome the difficultness of the analysis. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry assisted with Headspace sampling has given a new way for accurate and rapid analysis with simple procedure. Validation on the method of determination concentration of ethanol in post-mortem blood using iso-propanol as the internal standard was conducted. The validation parameter obtained indicate that iso-propanol is suitable to be used as internal standard. The validated protocol was followed to analysis 50 post-mortem blood sample obtain from Forensic Medicine Department upon autopsy. Result obtained relates that the quantification of ethanol in post-mortem blood can be conducted with high accuracy and specificity.

      Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
      Additional Information: Dissertation (M.Sc.) -- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 2014.
      Uncontrolled Keywords: Alcohol; Postmortem blood samples; Automated headspace gas chromatography – mass spectrometry
      Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
      Q Science > QD Chemistry
      Divisions: Faculty of Science
      Depositing User: Mrs Nur Aqilah Paing
      Date Deposited: 10 Mar 2015 10:56
      Last Modified: 10 Mar 2015 10:56
      URI: http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/id/eprint/4821

      Actions (For repository staff only : Login required)

      View Item