Determination of Time Elapsed since Death from Changes in Morphology of Red blood cells in Ranchi, Jharkhand

Determination of ‘time elapsed since death’ (TSD) is one of the important content of the post-mortem report. Although the changes in morphology of red blood cells are variable, depending on different factors like other parameters used for the purpose of determination of time since death but it is less variable as compared to others. The study sample comprised of 150 medico-legal autopsies conducted in the department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand during June 2006 to September 2007. In present series of studies in majority of cases the shape of RBCs became dimorphic, and peripheral area became pale in 12 to 24 hrs after death. In 18 to 36 Hrs normal central pallor lost and 24 to 48 Hrs majority of RBC lysed.