Effect of beta-glucuronidase on urinary benzodiazepine concentrations determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay.
In samples from patients treated with oxazepam, beta-glucuronidase increased the immunoreactivity of urinary benzodiazepines analyzed by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). Increasing concentrations of beta-glucuronidase added to samples from drug-free controls did not influence the results. In the absence of beta-glucuronidase, 22 of 35 samples from patients undergoing detoxification gave positive results at a cutoff concentration of 200 micrograms/L. Pretreatment with beta-glucuronidase increased the number of drug-positive samples to 33. The drug-negative samples were obtained from two patients who had been oxazepam-free for at least 1 week. Thus, beta-glucuronidase can be used to increase the sensitivity of the urinary benzodiazepine FPIA without reducing the specificity of the method.
Simonsson
P
P
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Hospital of Engelholm, Sweden.
Lidén
A
A
Lindberg
S
S
D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000652:urine*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016231:Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010076:Oxazepam / Q000652:urine; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000652:urine
D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010076:Oxazepam; D005966:Glucuronidase