HbA1c method evaluation for postmortem samples.

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is used for diagnosis of diabetes and evaluation of the glycemic control of diabetics in clinical medicine. It is also a useful biomarker for analyzing postmortem samples, since it is relatively stable and correlates well with clinical samples. We wanted to evaluate the information provided by HbA1c analysis of postmortem blood samples using a HPLC based, fully automated analyzer.

Assessment of Traub formula and ketone bodies in cause of death investigations.

Diabetes and alcohol abuse may cause severe metabolic disturbances that can be fatal. These may be difficult to diagnose in autopsies based solely on macroscopical and histological findings. In such cases, metabolic markers, such as postmortem glucose and ketone levels, can provide supporting information.