title: Effect of assay methodology on the prediction of lithium maintenance dosage.
abstract: Test dose methods have been used to predict the maintenance dosage of lithium carbonate tablets in bipolar patients. These methods require a lithium analytical method that is accurate to the second decimal place. Successful use of these test methods has employed the atomic absorption spectrophotometric method, yet many hospitals use a flame spectrophotometric method. We evaluated a two-point method to predict lithium maintenance dosages of slow-release lithium carbonate tablets in 20 bipolar patients using both assay methodologies. No clinically significant differences were found between the two sets of predictions, suggesting that either assay methodology has requisite sensitivity and accuracy for use in test dose predictions of lithium maintenance dosages.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, Monroe Community Hospital, Rochester, NY 14603.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Karki
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Holden
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010783:Photometry; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium