After death anaerobic glycolysis occurs, with accumulation of lactate. After an initial high rate of lactate formation, there is a slower increase as substrate is consumed and the body cools.
The data in Figure 5.5, pages 142, Henssge 1995 was extracted and entered into JMP.
For lactate < 23.5, the time since death is < 1 hour.
For lactate 23.5 - 120 mg/dL
hours since death =
= (0.0001534 * ((lactate in mg/dL) ^ 2)) + (0.013948 * (lactate in mg/dL)) - 0.339317
For lactate 120 - 176 mg/dL
hours since death =
= (0.0010845 * ((lactate in mg/dL) ^ 2)) - (0.224863 * (lactate in mg/dL)) + 14.969869
For lactate 176 - 212 mg/dL
hours since death =
= (0.0012852 * ((lactate in mg/dL) ^ 2)) - (0.334339 * (lactate in mg/dL)) + 28.060635
For lactate > 212 mg/dL, the time since death is > 15 hours.
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