title: Bioassay system for determining ribavirin levels in human serum and urine.
abstract: A simple, sensitive, micromethod was developed to determine levels of ribavirin, or its active metabolic products, in human serum or urine. The procedure utilized the inhibition of measles virus cytopathic effect in BS-C-1 cells. Based upon maximum dilutions of human serum or urine containing ribavirin which inhibited the measles virus, the bioassay detected ribavirin in concentrations as low as 0.006 microgram/ml in serum or 0.03 microgram/ml in urine. Herpesvirus 1, parainfluenza virus 3 and reovirus 1 were also tested for sensitivity to ribavirin. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of ribavirin in serum or urine against these other viruses were no lower 0.32 microgram/ml.
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000032:analysis*; D012263:Ribonucleosides / Q000032:analysis*; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D012263:Ribonucleosides; D012254:Ribavirin