Initial experience with a toxicology screening programme

A scheme for drug identification in overdosed patients has been developed, using a combination of the techniques of extraction, thin layer and gas chromatography, ultra violet spectroscopy and colorimetry. 5ml plasma and 50ml urine or gastric aspirate is required for the full drug screen, which can be completed within 2h. Fifty-three drugs are presently encompassed by the screen, and include analgesics, alcohols, antihistamines, anticonvulsants, barbiturates and related compounds, narcotics, phenothiazines, sedatives, tranquillizers and tricyclic antidepressants.