title: How can analytical diagnostics in clinical toxicology be successfully performed today?
abstract: This article discusses current strategies for efficient analytical diagnostics in clinical toxicology. The tasks for such diagnostics, different analytical strategies and various methods were reviewed. They cover mainly gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry procedures for target or comprehensive screening for drugs (of abuse) and poisons, and for quantification in blood. Quality control aspects and strategies for competent interpretation of the analytical result in correlation with the clinical signs presented by the patient are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Homburg (Saar), Germany. hans.maurer@uks.eu
authors.forename: Hans H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Maurer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D011042:Poisons / Q000032:analysis*; D011786:Quality Control; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011042:Poisons