A simple and disposable visual measuring device to assay antiepileptic drugs from whole blood samples

This study evaluated a new, simple, disposable visual measuring device (AccuLevel), which uses enzyme immunochromatography to indicate visually, without any instrument, the concentrations of three major antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in small blood samples. Drug levels (30 values for diphenylhydantoin, 41 for phenobarbital, and 40 for carbamazepine) obtained by AccuLevel were compared with those obtained with the enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT). Results showed an excellent correlation between EMIT and AccuLevel data for the three major AEDs. The method appears to be particularly suitable in outpatients and in case of emergency.