Ether: Stability in Preserved Blood Samples and a Case of Ether-Assisted Suicide

Ethyl ether was detected in the blood of a deceased individual who had inhaled it from a mask while hanging himself. This case led to an investigation into the stability of ether in stored blood samples. Ether was spiked, at 3 concentrations, into batches of porcine blood. The blood was apportioned into stoppered collection tubes & stored refrigerated until analysis. The concentration of ether in the blood was assessed at intervals over a 2 month period. This study has shown, for a concentration range of 0.1 to 5.0mg/mL, ether is stable in preserved, refrigerated blood for at least two months. (19 refs.)