In medicolegal practice, the best specimen for detecting alcohol consumption at the time of death is:
- A Vitreous humor ✓
- B Blood from femoral vein
- C Urine
- D Gastric contents
Correct answer: A. Vitreous humor
Explanation
Vitreous humor is the preferred specimen for postmortem alcohol estimation because it is isolated from the body's metabolic activity and postmortem bacterial fermentation, which can artifactually elevate blood alcohol levels. Vitreous alcohol concentration correlates well with ante-mortem blood alcohol and is considered the gold standard in decomposed or putrefied bodies.
Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.