The Autopsy Diagnosis of Early Myocardial Infarction (MI) By Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride (Ttc) or Nitrobluetetrazolium (NBT) Dye Test

Myocardial infarction is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death [1]. Light microscopic changes cannot be seen in myocardial infarction before 6 hrs. The pathologist can't help the doctor doing post mortem as the heart is sent in fixative (formalin). Myocardial infarction can be demonstrated by Triphenyltetrazolium chloride with tris HCl buffer or by Nitrobluetetrazolium dye test in an unfixed and fresh heart by immersing the slices of heart from suspected area or different areas of heart in these chemical dyes. The colour of infracted area remains pale yellow(unstained) and the normal heart with intact dehydronases stains red with TTC and Blue with NBT dye. The size and site of MI by any of the tests can also be found. Most infarcts are single and measure 4-10cm in size.