Analysis of opiates in fly larvae sampled on a putrefied cadaver

J Forensic Sci Soc. 1994 Apr-Jun;34(2):95-7. doi: 10.1016/s0015-7368(94)72890-5.

Abstract

Toxicological analyses on a putrefied cadaver are sometimes difficult to achieve, because of the absence of blood and/or urine. Drugs present in a decomposing corpse may be identified through analysis of maggots feeding off it. In this study, morphine and codeine were simultaneously identified and assayed in blood and bile of a putrefied cadaver and in the fly larvae of Calliphoridae found on the corpse.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bile / chemistry
  • Cadaver*
  • Codeine / analysis*
  • Codeine / blood
  • Diptera / chemistry*
  • Forensic Medicine / methods*
  • Humans
  • Larva / chemistry
  • Male
  • Morphine / analysis*
  • Morphine / blood

Substances

  • Morphine
  • Codeine