Rapid Chemical Tests in the Autopsy Room

Abstract

From its beginning, the autopsy represented a useful instrument for the progression of medicine and continues to be a valuable tool in postmortem diagnosis of various diseases or traumatic injuries. Modern laboratory technology is an important aid in achieving autopsy goals but it is either not available or not permanently available in all the departments of Forensic Medicine and do not offer every time quick results, which might be necessary to guide the next steps of the forensic investigation. In this paper the authors present a set of rapid, sensitive and effective chemical reactions, described in the literature over the time and meant to support the forensic experts, as they can be easily performed in the autopsy room. Moreover, the application of these reactions may reduce the costs of laboratory analyzes in cases where the use of expensive laboratory technologies is no longer required or limited by the results of these reactions. Also, a brief description of the collection method for biological samples to be used is provided. At the end of the paper the authors suggest a minimum kit of chemical substances which are necessary in the autopsy room, in order for these analyses to be performed.