GUIDELINES FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF ANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY RESULTS AND UNIT OF MEASUREMENT CONVERSION FACTORS

A data compilation has been published on the World Wide Web [http://ww w.leeds.ac.uk/acb/annals] which aims to assist in the interpretation o f analytical toxicology results in individual patients. 'Therapeutic' or 'normal' plasma/whole blood/urine concentrations, as well as the co ncentrations associated with serious toxicity (if known), for some 700 analytes of toxicological interest are given together with (when poss ible) relative atomic or formula masses, and mass/amount and amount/ma ss concentration conversion factors. This paper gives background and s upplementary information which should be borne in mind when providing interpretation or using the Web table. Supplementary tables listing (i ) common therapeutic drug monitoring assays and guidelines for interpr etation of results, (ii) emergency toxicology analyses which may influ ence active treatment, (iii) blood carboxyhaemoglobin saturation and c linical features of toxicity, (iv) information important when interpre ting the results of toxicology investigations, (v) factors which may a ffect interpretation of analytical toxicology results, and (vi) conver sion factors for volatile compounds are included.