Application of the programmable calculator in reporting emergency toxicology data

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Toxicology
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Emergency toxicology analyses are crucial for patient care.
• Personnel unfamiliar with specific tests may encounter reporting challenges.
• Drug interference and identification of novel substances complicate analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of a programmable calculator in reporting emergency toxicology results.
• To address issues arising from personnel unfamiliarity with toxicology assays.
• To enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of emergency toxicology screening.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a programmable calculator with a specialized software program.
• The program provides alerts for potential drug interferences in screening tests.
• The program offers an updated list of local street and recreational drugs.

Main Results:

• Elimination of problems associated with unfamiliarity with specific toxicology tests.
• Physicians are alerted to drugs that may interfere with screening results.
• Provides a readily accessible list of drugs of abuse for improved identification.

Conclusions:

• Programmable calculators can significantly aid non-specialist personnel in emergency toxicology.
• The software enhances the reliability of toxicology screening by managing drug interference.
• Improved drug identification capabilities support better clinical decision-making in emergency settings.