Gettler's test is performed on blood drawn separately from the right and left sides of the heart in a suspected drowning death. A marked fall in the chloride concentration of right heart blood relative to the left indicates:

• A Saltwater drowning
• B Death from natural cardiac disease before submersion
• C Postmortem immersion without breathing
• D Freshwater drowning ✓

Explanation

Aspirated freshwater is hypotonic, so it crosses the alveolar-capillary membrane, dilutes the pulmonary venous return reaching the left heart, and causes haemolysis and haemodilution. This lowers the chloride of right heart blood relative to the left. In saltwater drowning the hypertonic seawater draws plasma water into the alveoli and the relationship is reversed. The test is supportive only, since decomposition and postmortem diffusion alter results.

Reference: Modi's Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, 23rd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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