EVALUATION OF AN AUTOMATED LIQUID-CHROMAT OGRAPHY ALGORITHM FOR TOXICOLOGICAL SCREENING OF BIOLOGICAL-FLUIDS

This study evaluated an automated high performance liquid chromatograp hy algorithm that allows identification of 330 substances and metaboli tes in biological fluids. We assessed its ability to detect in urine a nd gastric lavage fluids the main psychotropic drugs ingested with sui cidal intent. Antidepressants and most of the phenothiazines were reco gnised; identification of benzodiazepines was more uncertain. Compared to EMIT techniques, chromatography is less sensitive, but allows prec ise identification of the offending poison, quantifies the amount, and allows broad toxicological screening of pharmacological classes inacc essible to the EMIT technique.