MAC Pt. 401, R. 7.1
Coroner Seals on Body Bags
Cite as Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 401, R. 7.1
Coroner Seals on Body Bags
In all Medical Examiner cases referred to the State Medical Examiner for postmortem
examination, the County Medical Examiner Investigator shall place a numbered Coroner Seal on
the body bag in such a manner so as to prevent unauthorized access to the decedent and associated
personal property until the Seal is broken by the State Medical Examiner or his or her designee.
The Coroner Seal must be used on all homicide cases, unidentified human remains cases, in-
custody deaths, infant deaths, and other deaths as deemed necessary by the State Medical
Examiner.
Part 401 Chapter 8 Toxicologic Specimens Rule
8.1 Specimens for Toxicologic Examinations
In all Medical Examiner cases, the investigating Medical Examiner shall obtain specimens of
blood, urine and/or vitreous humor as the condition of the body permits. If the patient has been
treated in a hospital, emergency room, or other health care facility immediately prior to death,
such specimens should be taken into custody by the investigating Medical Examiner. With the
exception of motor vehicle fatalities (see below), specimens obtained as noted above may be
submitted immediately for toxicologic examination or may be retained in refrigerated storage for
examination at a later time, at the discretion of the investigating Medical Examiner. In all
instances of motor vehicle fatalities, including operators, passengers and pedestrians, specimens
shall be submitted to the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory for toxicologic examination. If
toxicologic examination is deemed necessary, and the condition of the body prohibits recovery of
urine, blood or vitreous humor, specimens of brain, lung, kidney, spleen and/or other tissues
should be submitted for analysis.