Lab technician testifies about lethal level of cyanide in Autumn Klein's blood

The lab technician who tested Autumn Klein's blood on April 20, 2013, for cyanide knew immediately the toxin was present.

The solution used to conduct the test at the Quest Diagnostics laboratory in Chantilly, Va., turned red when the sample was first mixed, said Sonia Obcemea.

When she continued her testing and did the calculations, the technician said, "I got 2.2 milligrams per liter which is very, very high.

"This is really a very high, toxic level of cyanide."

Ms. Obcemea said she has worked for Quest for 37 years, and Dr. Klein's test was the first lethal dose of cyanide she ever obtained.

Ms. Obcemea was the second witness called today in the fifth day of trial for Robert Ferrante, a University of Pittsburgh neuroresearcher accused of killing his wife, Dr. Klein, with cyanide. She collapsed at the couple's Oakland home late on April 17, 2013, and died on April 20.

Physicians treating her said that they requested a cyanide test on Dr. Klein only because they noticed her blood was a bright red color while treating her. That color indicates a high level of oxygen in the blood, which is consistent with cyanide poisoning.

The first prosecution witness called today was Dr. Leslie Edinboro, the science director for Quest's lab in Virginia.

He talked about the process used to conduct a cyanide test, the controls that are used to ensure results and the review process.

One of the defense arguments in the case is that the Quest lab results were changed after Ms. Obcemea first concluded the test.

While she recorded 2.2 mg/L, a person who back-checked her work changed it to 3.4 mg/L.

On cross-examination by defense attorney William Difenderfer, Dr. Edinboro defended the results.

"The report was wrong. The quantitative result was correct," he said, referring to the initial finding of 2.2 mg/L.

Assistant district attorney Lisa Pellegrini followed up on that in re-direct examination.

"Is [2.2] considered a lethal level?" she asked.

"It would be," Dr. Edinboro answered.

"Is 3.4 a lethal level?" she continued.

"Yes, it is."

"Whether it's 2.2 or 3.4, it's still a lethal level?" Ms. Pellegrini asked.

"That's correct," Dr. Edinboro answered.

Mr. Difenderfer also made a point to ask Dr. Edinboro about the standard operating procedure for Quest in terms of storing blood for cyanide testing.

Dr. Edinboro agreed with the written standards, which say that results can be gotten with blood stored at ambient temperature for 14 days, refrigerated for 14 days and frozen for up to 30 days.

He noted, though, that the blood must be kept in an air-tight container to ensure results.

The defense said in opening statements that a test conducted on Dr. Klein's blood by another company, NMS Labs, returned a negative result.