Automated liquid-chromatographic analyzer used for toxicology screening in a general hospital: 12 months' experience

We evaluated the clinical utility of an automated HPLC system (Remedi, Bio-Rad) for identification of drugs and metabolites in biological fluids. Serum or urine or both from 354 consecutive cases of poisoning were analyzed by the system and by a set of fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA, Abbott) and thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) procedures. Antidepressants and most phenothiazines were recognized by the new system. Comparison of Remedi results with final clinical diagnoses yielded diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of 80% and 90%, respectively. Remedi detected 26 additional compounds that were neither reactive in the immunoassay screening tests nor detected by TLC procedures. Because the Remedi expands the range of drugs covered by the immunoassays and provides a rapid, preliminary report in emergency situations, we conclude that this system can be a useful complementary technique in the clinical toxicology laboratory. Although urine toxicological screening seemed adequate for a good toxicological report, blood analysis allows extra toxicokinetic data such as blood concentrations and half-life estimations.