Suitability of Postmortem Blood for Blood Grouping as Regard to Time since Death in Medico Legal Autopsies in Jamnagar Region
Author(s): Rahul A Mehta, Mahesh M Trangadia, Nita H Rada, B D Gupta
Abstract
Background: In view utility of various body fluid and their uses in PME, we thought that can we use postmortem blood sample for blood grouping by conventional method which are used in living person? Having this idea in mind we did our project.
Aims: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of postmortem blood sample for blood grouping by conventional method in relation to time since death.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 500 medico-legal autopsies which were brought to Forensic medicine Department, M. P. Shah Govt. Medical College, Jamnagar during the period of November-2006 to May-2007. Blood was collected from the heart cavity and blood grouping was done by conventional slide method.
Results: Out of 500 cases blood groups for both ABO and Rh system could be detected in 457 cases (91.4%) and in 43 cases (8.6%) could not be detected. Most of the cases were from blood groups B+ve, 157 cases (31.4%), followed by A+ve, 127cases (25.4%). Out of 500 cases blood group was not able to done in 43 cases (8.6%). Out of these 43 cases, maximum cases were belongs to time since death more than 72hrs group that was 19 cases (44.18%). Following that was from group time since death between 6 to 12hrs, 5 cases (11.64%).
Conclusion: Blood grouping for both ABO and Rh system was possible up to 72 hours since death by conventional slide method. Blood groups could not be detected in any case were time since death was more than 72 hours by conventional slide method.
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