This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Flanagan, R.J. Articles by Loveland, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Flanagan, R.J. Articles by Loveland, M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Analytical Toxicology

Poisons Unit, Guy's Hospital, St Thomas' Street, London SE1 9RT

B. Widdop

Poisons Unit, Guy's Hospital, St Thomas' Street, London SE1 9RT

J.D. Ramsey

Toxicology Unit, Department of Chemical Pathology, St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 OQT

M. Loveland

Metropolitan Police orensic Science Laboratory, 109 Lambeth Road, London SE1 9RT, UK

Major advances in analytical toxicology followed the introduction of spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques in the 1940s and early 1950s and thin layer chromatography remains important together with some spectrophotometric and other tests. However, gas- and high performance-liquid chromatography together with a variety of immunoassay techniques are now videly used.

The scope and complexity of forensic and clinical toxicology continues to increase, although the compounds for which emergency analyses are needed to guide therapy are few. Exclusion of the presence of hypnotic drugs can be important in suspected 'brain death' cases.

Screening for drugs of abuse has assumed greater importance not only for the management of the habituated patient, but also in 'pre-employment' and 'employment' screening. The detection of licit drug administration in sport is also an area of increasing importance.

In industrial toxicology, the range of compounds for which blood or urine measurements (so called 'biological monitoring') can indicate the degree of exposure is increasing. The monitoring of environmental contaminants (lead, chlorinated pesticides) in biological samples has also proved aluable.

In the near future a consensus as to the units of measurement to be used is urgently required and more emphasis will be placed on interpretation, especially as regards possible behavioural effects of drugs or other poisons. Despite many advances in analytical techniques there remains a need for reliable, simple tests to detect poisons for use in smaller hospital and other laboratories.

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 7, No. 5, 489-502 (1988)
DOI: 10.1177/096032718800700517


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?