engleski

APPLICATION OF BENZODIAZEPINE IMMUNOASSAY IN ACUTE POISONING

Background: Benzodiazepines are often prescribed drugs and most common cause of acute poisoning. Immunoassays are widely used tests for fast estimation of intoxications. These assays are qualitative or semiquantitative. When used semiquantitatively, the assay yields approximate, cumulative concentrations of the drug and metabolites. The aim of our study was to compare concentrations obtained by immunoassay with cumulative concentrations of benzodiazepines measured by HPLC method. Methods: We have analysed 26 samples of patients who were suspected for intoxications and had positive serum benzodiazepines measured by EMIT method (VIVA E, SIEMENS). All samples were confirmed for presence of benzodiazepines and metabolite using GC-MS analysis. Same samples were analysed by HPLC method in order to determine concentrations of each drug from this group using reagent kit for benzodiazepines (CHROMSYSTEM). Sample comparison was performed using Passing - Bablock regression. Results: Although some major outliers were noted, regression equation with 95% CI obtained from Passing - Bablock analysis showed no significant deviation from linearity (y = - 0.01+1.09). Recovery of immunochemical method calculated against HPLC as a reference is 142, 08% with CV of 126, 56%. More significant deviation was observed in area of higher concentrations. Conclusion: Although clinically important discrepancies could be observed, application of concentrations obtained by immunoassay could give useful information about risk or level of intoxication, when it is known which benzodiazepines (with known therapeutic/toxic ranges) are cause of intoxication.

benzodiazepines ; EMIT ; HPLC

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