• Shakeel Ahmad, Muhammad Aamir, Sobia Irum Kirmani, Zujaja Hina Haroon, Afshan Bibi, and Usama Bin Khalid.
• Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
• J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2021 Oct 1; 31 (10): 1159-1162.

ObjectiveTo determine the association of temperature, time duration, and preservatives with ethanol neo-genesis in postmortem whole blood samples.Study DesignObservational cross-sectional study.Place And Duration Of StudyDepartment of Chemical Pathology and Toxicology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from August 2020 to January 2021.MethodologyWhole blood samples were obtained from cardiac chamber of an autopsy case with aseptic measures and were drawn into six tubes (3 x EDTA tubes and 3 x NaF tubes). These six tubes were stored at 4˚C, 25˚C, and 37˚C. All samples were analysed along with internal standard, on head space gas-chromatography on Day-0, Day-07, Day-14, Day-21, and Day-28 of sampling.ResultsA total of 60 samples out of 10 autopsies, were analysed. Blood alcohol concentrations of all samples were negative on 1st day (Day-0) of analysis. Samples stored at 4˚C did not produce any ethanol at any day of analysis, regardless of preservatives used. Neo-ethanol levels of blood samples stored in EDTA preservative were significantly raised (p <0.001) as compared to samples stored in NaF preservative. Samples stored at 37˚C showed significant increase in neo-ethanol concentration (p <0.001) in comparison with samples stored at 4˚C and 25˚C. Neo-ethanol levels increased with duration of storage till 14th day of analysis.ConclusionSodium fluoride (NaF) should be used as preservative to avoid ethanol neo-genesis during storage and transportation of blood samples for alcohol analysis. Cold chain maintenance is of pivotal importance to exclude false positive blood alcohol results. Key Words: Neo-ethanol, Neo-genesis, Ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid (EDTA), Sodium fluoride (NaF).

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