Estimation of postmortem interval through albumin in CSF by simple dye binding method

Abstract

Estimation of postmortem interval is a very important question in some medicolegal investigations. For the precise estimation of postmortem interval, there is a need of a method which can give accurate estimation. Bromocresol green (BCG) is a simple dye binding method and widely used in routine practice. Application of this method in forensic practice may bring revolutionary changes. In this study, cerebrospinal fluid was aspirated from cisternal puncture from 100 autopsies. A study was carried out on concentration of albumin with respect to postmortem interval. After death, albumin present in CSF undergoes changes, after 72h of death, concentration of albumin has become 0.012mM, and this decrease was linear from 2h to 72h. An important relationship was found between albumin concentration and postmortem interval with an error of ±1–4h. The study concludes that CSF albumin can be a useful and significant parameter in estimation of postmortem interval.