title: Detection of drugs in patients with overdose: comparison between skin surface air sampling and thin layer chromatography.
abstract: We compared the efficacy of skin surface air sampling with thin layer chromatography (TLC) in detecting drugs in patients admitted to hospital with a history of drug overdose. The methodology utilizes air samples in contact with skin surfaces and ion-mobility spectrometry. Fifty patients consented to skin surface air sampling and provided urine samples. Of the 51 drugs identified in 43 patients, air sampling detected just over 50% of the drugs, TLC identified about 90%. The rate of identification was greater in patients ingesting uncoated tablets. Skin surface air sampling is a useful initial screening method for drugs especially when they are ingested in tablet or powder form. The methodology is rapid, noninvasive and can screen for multiple drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nanji
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012867:Skin / Q000032:analysis*; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations