Citation

Dubowski KM. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1981; 1981: 433-441.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Recent technology transfers, actual or potential, have greatly enhanced the capability to analyze biological fluids for drugs of interest in relation to driving. Advances in techniques for therapeutic drugs monitoring (tdm), postmortem toxicology, and analysis for drugs of abuse have greatly increased the number of drugs capable of being routinely analyzed in living subjects and have substantially improved the accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and specificity of the drugs/driving analysis capability. Advances in immunochemical assays (e.g. For the cannabinoids) have been particularly pertinent and extensive. Parent drug compounds and major metabolites, as reference materials ("standards"), and performance monitoring services applicable to drugs/driving have concomitantly been developed and validated for the other drug analysis requirements. Extensive experience in proficiency testing has established a useful body of information concerning analysis method characteristics and the relative performance and pitfalls of various analytical principles and methods for drugs. The ability, therefore, now exists effectively to analyze body liquids, i.e. for the cannabinoids, opiates and other narcotics, the benzodiazepines and other hypnotics and sedatives, and many psychostimulants. Analysis for hallucinogens is currently less advanced. Interpretation of results has also been facilitated by the data development for tdm. Breath and saliva require further attention as non-invasive specimens for drugs/driving, in preference to urine. The current situation will be documented and exemplified. (TRRL)