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Table 3 Toxicological assays

From: Management of pharmaceutical and recreational drug poisoning

Dosing methods

Interest/limits

Immunological

Plasma or serum

Acetaminophen, salicylic acid (active metabolite of acetylsalicylic acid), digoxin, valproic acid

Automated assays (available in less than 120 min)

Few potential interferences (kit-dependent)

Specific electrodes

Plasma (without lithium heparin as anticoagulant) or serum

Lithium

LC–MS/MS or GC–MS

Plasma or serum

Acetaminophen, salicylic acid (active metabolite of acetylsalicylic acid), digoxin, valproic acid

No interference

Not automated, cannot be used in an emergency

Flame photometer

Plasma or total blood (erythrocyte assay)

Lithium

  1. LC–MS/MS liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, GC–MS gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry