Applications of Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC–MSMS) in estimating the post-mortem interval using the biochemistry of the vitreous humour

Abstract It is widely accepted that the quantification of potassium concentrations ([K+]) and hypoxanthine ([Hx]) in the vitreous humour is useful in estimating the time of death within a recent time interval. Despite all the advances made in this area, it is well recognized that difficulties in cal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forensic science international 2012-11, Vol.223 (1), p.160-164
Main Authors: Lendoiro, Elena, Cordeiro, Cristina, Rodríguez-Calvo, María S, Vieira, Duarte N, Suárez-Peñaranda, José M, López-Rivadulla, Manuel, Muñoz-Barús, José I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Alliances
Biochemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Chromatography
Chromatography, Liquid
Confidence intervals
Contamination
Death
Efficiency
Estimating
Extraction
Forensic medicine
Forensic Pathology
Forensic sciences
General aspects
Guanine - analysis
Humans
Hypoxanthine
Hypoxanthine - analysis
Intervals
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Limit of Detection
Linearity
Medical sciences
Pathology
Post mortem interval
Postmortem Changes
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Statistical methods
Tandem mass spectrometer
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Uric Acid - analysis
Vitreous Body - chemistry
Vitreous humour
Xanthine - analysis
Xanthines
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Summary:Abstract It is widely accepted that the quantification of potassium concentrations ([K+]) and hypoxanthine ([Hx]) in the vitreous humour is useful in estimating the time of death within a recent time interval. Despite all the advances made in this area, it is well recognized that difficulties in calibration, validation and the use of different methodologies and instrumentation from different laboratories may lead to obtaining different concentrations from the same sample. The extraction of the vitreous humour itself should also be carried out with a precise technique, taking care during the procedure to avoid causing any vascular injury that might lead to haematic contamination. Any fluid that is not clear could lead to erroneous results and should be discarded. We present a new LC–MSMS method developed for quantitative and qualitative analysis of [Hx] (valid also for guanine and xanthine), and qualitative determination of uric acid in vitreous humour. We also introduce a methodology to assess haematic contamination in order to improve the estimation of time since death. The method was fully validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, imprecision, analytical recovery, extraction and process efficiency and matrix effect.
ISSN:0379-0738
1872-6283
DOI:10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.08.022