Citation

Jones AW, Lund M, Andersson E. J. Traffic Med. 1987; 15(4): e19.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The official method of forensic alcohol analysis currently used in Sweden involves computer aided head space chromatography of whole blood after dilution (1 + 10) with n-propanol as internal standard. Triplicate determinations are made with aliquots taken from two separate tubes of blood and the chromatography is done on three different stationary phases: carbopak c, carbopak b, and 15% carbowax 20 m on chromosorb w. This provides a routine screen test for the presence of 2-butanone in blood. A positive finding strongly suggests that the individual from which the blood is taken has consumed denatured alcohol. This is because denatured alcohol preparations such as t-red contain acetone and 2-butanone as additives. These ketones can be converted into secondary alcohol by the liver. The concentrations of acetone and 2-propanol as well as of 2-butanone and 2-butanol in the forensic blood samples is highly correlated. (abstract of a paper presented at an international workshop of the international committee on alcohol drugs and traffic safety, 6-7 September 1987, duesseldorf, Federal republic of Germany). (TRRL)

Language: en

Keywords

Conference; Drunk driving; Drunkenness; Ethanol; Alcohol; Sweden; Chromatography; Blood alcohol levels; Drunk drivers; Blood analysis; Blood tests; Blood alcohol content; Denaturants