Postmortem Clinical Testing

Abstract

Testing of postmortem specimens for clinical analytes may be important in the determination of certain causes of death. Because of changes that occur after death, postmortem blood specimens may not be appropriate for testing. For example, clinical chemistry assays performed on vitreous humor can provide more meaningful information in deaths due to diabetes (glucose) and dehydration (urea nitrogen, sodium). Mast cell tryptase is a test that can be performed on postmortem serum to assist in the diagnosis of anaphylactic deaths. The blood is also a useful specimen in identifying metabolic disorders that produce functional abnormalities without corresponding structural anomalies. Thyroid function tests may also be performed on postmortem blood specimens but are best interpreted in combination with histological findings. Postmortem clinical testing and the selection of appropriate postmortem specimens are reviewed for some of the most common conditions of interest, including anaphylaxis, dehydration, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and thyroid function.