Investigations
Investigations to consider
blood culture
Test
Microbiological evaluation for bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens.
Important to take samples as soon as possible after death to avoid false-positive or false-negative results.
Result
negative
cerebrospinal fluid culture
Test
Microbiological evaluation for bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens.
Important to take samples as soon as possible after death to avoid false-positive or false-negative results.
Result
negative
urine culture
Test
Microbiological evaluation for bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens.
Important to take samples as soon as possible after death to avoid false-positive or false-negative results.
Result
negative
serum chemistry
Test
Evaluation for acylcarnitine profile, and serum ammonia and amino acid concentrations. Results are specific for different metabolic disorders.
Result
negative for other causes
urine chemistry
Test
Evaluation for urine organic acids concentrations. Results are specific for different metabolic disorders.
Result
negative for other causes
photographic record
Test
Skin and ophthalmological findings, especially bruises and retinal haemorrhages, are recorded.
Result
negative for other causes
skeletal survey
Test
Evidence of bone injuries is suggestive of an alternative cause of death: for example, non-accidental injury.
Result
negative
anatomical pathology
Test
Gross internal organ and microscopic pathology examination using a standardised autopsy protocol.
Result
negative for other causes
vitreous chemistry
Test
Postmortem vitreous chemistry reflects serum chemistry before death and can reveal electrolyte abnormalities.
Result
negative for other causes
muscle biopsy
Test
Confirmatory for mitochondrial disorders. Histological changes are disorder-specific.
Result
negative for other causes
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