Rapid quantitative determination of cyanide in biological fluids from coyotes killed with a coyote getter.

A number of methods for the determination of cyanide in biological fluids have been published. Many are not really rapid or else rely on elaborate specialized equipment. The method reported here is rapid, uses only inexpensive disposable, and produces a quantitative result within 1 minute on as little as a few drops of blood. Cyanide concentrations found by this method in the blood of coyotes killed by sodium cyanide blasted into the mouth with a snub-nosed gun concealed in bait are given and discussed. Cyanide levels in blood from the left ventricle of the heart were always much higher than those from the right ventricle, and concentrations in the right ventricle were always very close to 700 micrograms/L.