title: Decontamination methods for cytotoxic drugs. 1. Use of a bioluminescent technique to monitor the inactivation of methotrexate with chlorine-based agents.
abstract: A new microbial bioluminescence assay has been used to monitor the loss of mutagenicity on inactivation of methotrexate by active chlorine-based agents. The drug was degraded to products that were non-active in this mutagen detection system, in agreement with previously described work. Presept granules appear to be a suitable alternative to sodium hypochlorite for inactivating solutions and surface spills of methotrexate. The bioluminescence assay appears to have potential for monitoring clean-up and decontamination procedures in areas where cytotoxic agents are used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nottingham, U.K.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Wren
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Melia
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Denyer
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D002713:Chlorine; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000633:toxicity; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D012996:Solutions; D014227:Triazines
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D014227:Triazines; D002713:Chlorine; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; C011765:troclosene; D008727:Methotrexate