• Hongxia Hao, Hong Zhou, Xiaopei Liu, Zhong Zhang, and Zhongshan Yu.
• Key Laboratory of Evidence Science, China University of Political Science and Law, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100088, China. haohx@126.com
• Forensic Sci. Int. 2013 Jun 10; 229 (1-3): 116-21.

AbstractCarbon monoxide (CO) may be the cause of more than half the fatal poisonings reported in many countries, with some of these cases under-reported or misdiagnosed by medical professionals. Therefore, an accurate and reliable analytical method to measure blood carboxyhemoglobin level (COHb%), in the 1% to lethal range, is essential for correct diagnosis. Herein a method was established, i.e. head-space gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS/GC/MS) that has numerous advantages over other techniques, such as UV spectrometry, for determination of COHb%. There was a linear relationship (R(2)=0. 9995) between the peak area for CO and the COHb% in blood. Using a molecular sieve-packed column, CO levels in the air down to 0.01% and COHb% levels in small blood samples down to 0.2% could be quantitated rapidly and accurately. Furthermore, this method showed good reproducibility with a relative standard deviation for COHb% of <1%. Therefore, this technique provides an accurate and reliable method for determining CO and COHb% levels and may prove useful for investigation of deaths potentially related to CO exposure.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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