My previous message was perhaps a little bit too short. What I meant simply
was that most analytical techniques that are used in routine labs have been
designed to be used in living individuals, not in dead ones. To illustrate
the problem, let me tell you a real story. Here in France, some years ago, a
physician was sent to jail because he was accused to have poisoned an old
lady whose corpse contained high concentrations of digoxin measured by a
commercial assay. The problem is that in dead bodies, digoxin-like
immunorecative substances can be formed in great quantities. It was most
difficult for this physician to get out of jail. And when he finally
succeeded to demonstrate that he was not guilty, all his/her patients were
gone… This is why, as I told before, as a clinical chemist, I am
extremely cautious before I accept to analyse any sample from a dead body.
PS: sorry for my poor English…
Docteur Joseph Watine
Laboratoire de Biologie Polyvalente
Hôpital de Rodez
France
>From: "Robert Forrest" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "Joseph WATINE" <[log in to unmask]>,
><[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: RE: Post mortem biochemical tests
>Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 08:26:13 +0100
>
>The average highly trained forensic pathologist wouldn't recognise an
>analytical instrument if it bit him on the nose. There are one or two
>exceptions, eg Steven Karch (San Francisco). Not being rude, just
>realistic.
>There are four of them in this department.....
>
>Robert Forrest
>
>A R W Forrest LLM, FRCP, FRCPath,
>Professor of Forensic Toxicology
>University Dept of Forensic Pathology
>Medico-legal Centre
>Watery Street
>SHEFFIELD
>S3 7ES
>UK
>
>Voice +44 (0)114 2738721
>Fax +44 (0)114 279 8942
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: clinical biochemistry discussion list
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Joseph WATINE
> > Sent: 08 May 2002 17:34
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Post mortem biochemical tests
> >
> >
> > As a clinical chemist, I am extremely cautious before I accept to
>analyse any sample from a dead. Is this after all our job? Isn’t it
>rather the job of highly trained forensic pathologists?
> >
> > Joseph Watine, hôpital de Rodez, France
> >
> >
> > >From: Ada Cheng <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Reply-To: Ada Cheng <[log in to unmask]>
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Post mortem biochemical tests
> > >Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 09:57:50 +0800
> > >
> > >Our laboratory sometimes received requests for biochemical tests such
>as glucose, rheumatoid factor etc. on blood taken from post mortem samples.
>The blood is usually grossly haemolysed. Could anyone share with me the
>experience / knowledge on the clinical significance of analysing such
>blood.
> > >
> > >Thank you.
> > >
> > >Ada Cheng
> > >Clinical Pathology Laboratory Centre
> > >Hong Kong
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