1Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
3Assistant Professor, Forensic Science Unit, Department of Chemistry, University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
4Degree Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Telangana Tribal Welfare Degree College for Girls, Khammam, Telangana, India
Determining the cause of death and estimating the time since death or post-mortem interval (PMI) are crucial aspects of forensic pathology. Rapid chemical tests provide preliminary results that can guide further toxicological and histopathological analysis. The Analysis of these tests is influenced by many factors like environmental, decomposition, and individual variability. But, still rapid chemical tests require careful validation and must be corroborated with confirmatory techniques for reliable forensic conclusion which will help in the administration of law and justice. This review explores the mechanisms, applications, and limitations of rapid chemical tests in forensic autopsies. Key tests related to poisons, drugs, metabolic disorders, and changes in body fluids are described. Challenges such as specificity, sensitivity, environmental influences, and interpretational pitfalls are discussed.
Rapid Chemical Tests, Forensic Toxicology, Post-Mortem Interval, Cause of Death, Autopsy
