title: A test of the citrate method of PMI estimation from skeletal remains.
abstract: Citrate content in bone has been shown to be associated with the postmortem interval (PMI), with citrate decreasing after death as a function of time. Here we test this method using porcine ribs for the period of 1-165days after death, and also assess citrate content and variation from samples placed into two different postmortem environments (terrestrial and aquatic). Higher citrate variation, lower citrate recovery, and a weaker association with time were found in this study as compared to others. Citrate content, however, was found to decrease with increasing PMI, and the method was found to be easy and inexpensive to apply. No significant differences were found in citrate loss between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Although more research is needed, citrate content appears to be a promising new approach in estimating PMI from skeletal remains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Science, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Science, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA. Electronic address: angi.m.christensen@ic.fbi.gov.
authors.forename: Angi M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000071298:Body Remains; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D023421:Models, Animal; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012272:Ribs / Q000737:chemistry*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D019343:Citric Acid
keywords: Bone; Citrate; Forensic anthropology; Forensic science; Postmortem interval (PMI)