Post-mortem COVID-19 Positive Testing: Institute of Forensic Sciences Experience.

Objective: The main objective was to present the experience of the Institute of Forensic Sciences of Puerto Rico in facing the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as COVID-19. It has been found that some COVID-19 positive cases may continue to show post-mortem positive results for up to 49 days.

Methods: The in vitro technique of ID NOW COVID-19 was used in the analysis to evaluate the presence of SARS-Cov-2 in postmortem forensic cases.

Simultaneous determination of xylazine, free morphine, codeine, 6-acetylmorphine, cocaine and benzoylecgonine in postmortem blood by UPLC-MS-MS.

Xylazine, a veterinary sedative, has been found as an adulterant of heroin in street drugs in Puerto Rico. It was found in combination with free morphine and 6-acetylmorphine, codeine, cocaine and benzoylecgonine in postmortem cases at the Puerto Rico Institute of Forensic Sciences (PRIFS). Xylazine is not approved for human use because it has been proven harmful.