[Evaluation of an automated liquid chromatograph permitting toxicologic screening of biological fluids]

This study evaluated an automated high performance liquid chromatography algorithm that allows identification of 330 substances and metabolites in biological fluids. We assessed its ability to detect in urine and gastric lavage fluids the main psychotropic drugs ingested with suicidal intent. Antidepressants and most of the phenothiazines were recognised; identification of benzodiazepines was more uncertain. Compared to EMIT techniques, chromatography is less sensitive, but allows precise identification of the offending poison, quantifies the amount, and allows broad toxicological screening of pharmacological classes inaccessible to the EMIT technique.