Model of Zilg et al for Estimating the Post-Mortem Interval (PMI) from Vitreous Potassium Concentration

 

Subject selection: deceased for less than 1 week

 

Parameters:

(1) vitreous potassium in mmol/:

(2) ambient temperature in °C

(3) age in years

 

post-mortem interval = PMI =

= A / B

 

A =

= LN ((34.44 – 4.4) / (34.44 – (vitreous potassium)))

 

where:

• 34.44 is the maximum vitreous potassium about 1 week after death.

• 4.44 is normal vitreous potassium

 

B =

= (0.135) – (0.00112 * (age)) + (0.00985 * (temperature))

 

An online version by the authors is available at

dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1319545