Viscera preservation for post mortem toxicological analysis: A Review

For years, we have been preserving samples either for toxicological analysis in all cases of sudden, suspicious and unknown cause of death: or, to ascertain the alleged poison used in alleged history of poisoning. In India, procedures of post-mortem toxicological analysis and the common poisons used for suicidal and homicidal purpose have changed drastically during past few years. But the sample collection has not seen much change, especially, since now we can detect these toxins in body fluids too and need tissue samples in specific cases only. Many countries have well established guidelines for specimen collection, storage, analytical procedures to be used, quality assurance, chain of custody, reporting procedures and sample disposal for effective post-mortem toxicological analysis. This article reviews the various standards for amount of viscera to be preserved for post-mortem toxicological analysis followed in other countries and in India, and tries to make some recommendations in relation to the quantity and selection of viscera to be preserved during autopsy, so that effective and efficient toxicological evaluation can be done.