[Qualitative and quantitative analysis by analytical instruments of compounds causing acute poisoning].
In generally, the results of screening drugs or poisons by simple analytical techniques or screening kits show the possibility that the group of compounds detected is contained in the specimen. Then, qualitative and quantitative analyses by analytical instruments are required to identify the compound which is the cause of acute poisoning. Gas chromatograph-equipped electron ionization mass spectrometer is the most reliable apparatus of all analytical instruments. When the retention time and EI-mass spectrum of the detected peak by GC/MS analysis coincide with those of the reference standard and the blood level is abnormal, the compound is concluded to be the subject of the cause of acute poisoning. If we do not use GC/MS, we use two or more different analytical instruments or different analytical methods, and then we consider the overall results obtained from each analysis totally to identify the compound. In order to analyze drugs or poisons in biological materials using these instruments, pretreatment procedures are indispensable to identify the compound. The appropriate procedures increase sensitivity and specificity. When treating an acute poisoned patient, the use of analytical instruments tends to be avoided because it requires rapid investigation into the cause of acute poisoning. If the operator is proficient in using analytical instruments and the cause of acute poisoning is the compound that has been analyzed before, results using analytical instruments could give more useful information than using simple but rapid analytical techniques or screening kits. For this purpose, it is important to understand well the characteristics of the equipment to collect many reference standards, and to prepare for emergency analysis.
Department of Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa pref. 903-0215.
Chiaki
C
Fuke
D000208:Acute Disease; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000097:blood*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations