June 2015 CFTN
An AACC/CAP Educational Newsletter for Toxicology Laboratories
CFTN is registered with the U.S. Library of Congress, ISSN 2374-9679.
Read the June 2015 issue of CFTN
Welcome to the June 2015 CFTN. In this issue, the most useful ethanol biomarkers in blood and urine are discussed, advances in microextraction and mass spectrometry are described, and a case of tetrahydrozoline poisoning in an 18-month old child is presented. We also briefly review CLSI’s Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Methods; Approved Guideline (C62-A). We look forward to your feedback.
Suggested citation for CFTN
Author’s last name(s), first and middle initials. (Date of Publication). Title of article. Clinical and Forensic Toxicology News (Quarterly, AACC/CAP). Available from [specific web URL of posting].
Example
Colby J. (March 2015). Electronic Cigarettes. Clinical and Forensic Toxicology News (Quarterly, AACC/CAP). Available from https://www.myadlm.org/~/media/files/cftn/cftn-march-2015.pdf?la=en
Read the June 2015 Issue
You can earn one hour of ACCENT® credit at no charge for reading this issue. ACCENT is for laboratory professionals who need to document continuing education to meet licensure or certification requirements.
Markers of Ethanol Use
Blood and Urine Can Both Be Used
By Matthew H. Slawson, PhD and Kamisha L. Johnson-Davis, PhD
Many traditional blood markers of ethanol use have low specificity for ethanol, and false positives may be caused by other disease or other physiological conditions. Urine alcohol concentrations have been used together with blood concentrations to establish a timeframe of drinking. Direct metabolites with a longer window of detection can enhance the ability to detect drinking days or weeks after use.
Future of Mass Spectrometry
New Techniques Offer Faster and Simpler Sample Preparation
By Jennifer Powers, PhD
Ambient ionization and on-line extraction are exciting new developments in the analysis of complex mixtures with mass spectrometry. When these techniques are integrated with miniaturized mass spectrometers that have atmospheric pressure inlets, MS can be freed from the traditional laboratory setting for identifying and quantifying a wide variety of analytes in a multitude of settings. Sample preparation steps not only are much faster than those currently in use, but they also use less solvent.
Case Study
The Visine Prank Can Have Serious Consequences in Children
By He S. Yang, PhD
Ingesting a relatively small amount of tetrahydrozoline-containing eye drops can produce profound central nervous system depression and cardiovascular toxicity. When an 18-month-old boy arrived in the emergency department at San Francisco General Hospital with diarrhea, high blood pressure, and a low heart rate, opioid intoxication was suspected. The boy did not respond to naloxone treatment. Laboratory professionals may wish to consider including tetrahydrozoline in their targeted general unknown drug screen.