The colour of post-mortem lividity and control skin of 86 cadavers was measured spectrophotometrically to obtain L (value), a (chroma) and b (hue) values. In addition, left heart blood (n = 58), right heart blood (n = 57) and blood from the femoral vein (n = 21) were measured. Using these data, we analysed the relationship between post-mortem lividity, control skin and blood colours. L of post-mortem lividity (L) and control skin (L) were strongly correlated ( r = 0.64). a and b of post-mortem lividity (a and b) significantly increased with an increasing post-mortem interval (PMI) but r values were low (0.11 and 0.070, respectively). Predictive equations for post-mortem lividity colour (L, a and b) were developed using control skin colour (L, a and b) and autopsy findings for the first time. The predictive equation for L explained almost 65% of the observed L. We created predictive equations for PMI with and without blood colour values, and the most accurate equation, which did not use blood colour values, made it possible to estimate PMI within ± 10.29 h. Further study of these equations will help us to understand the factors that affect post-mortem lividity colour and increase the accuracy of equations for predicting post-mortem lividity colour and PMI.
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