The post mortem on the body of Whitney Houston has been completed, Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter has confirmed in Los Angeles.

However, he said that specific details would not be released following a request from detectives investigating the death, which came on the eve of the 54th Grammys - the Los Angeles gala of music's biggest occasion.

Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said the 48-year-old star was found in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton with "no visible signs of trauma" on her body.

Officials said they suspected no foul play, but would not confirm reports that prescription drug bottles were found in the star's fourth-floor room or comment on any evidence investigators recovered.

"No foul play is suspected at this time," he told reporters at a news conference, adding that a probable cause of death was not expected to be established for six to eight weeks pending toxicology reports.

Houston, one of the world's best-selling artists in the 1980s and 1990s, was due to a appear at the annual pre-Grammy party of her long-time mentor, record producer Clive Davis at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday. She was found by a member of her entourage hours before it began.

Los Angeles police confirmed paramedics unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the troubled singer, who was pronounced dead at 3.55pm local time on Saturday.

The force said more details about Houston's death may be revealed later today, depending on the discretion of detectives.

Houston, who some speculated was on the brink of bankruptcy, was pictured last week looking dishevelled and disorientated as she left a Hollywood nightclub after performing at another pre-Grammy bash.

She was alongside her daughter Bobbi Kristina, who was yesterday taken to a Los Angeles hospital suffering from stress and exhaustion following the tragedy. The 18-year-old was later released.