Citation

Wilimowska J, Kłys M, Rojek S, Jenner B, Ciszowski K. Prob. Forensic Sci. 2007; 72: 416-432.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Institute of Forensic Research Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The report presents the results of a comparative study of valproic acid assays performed using the fluorescence polarisation immunoassay (FPIA) technique on the Abbott Axsym System and a developed analytical procedure based on gas chromatography - electron ionisation mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A specific method (GC-MS) for the quantitative determination of valproic acid in human plasma has been validated and presented in this paper. Valproic acid was extracted from acidified plasma by ethyl acetate and converted to its trimethylsilyl derivative, giving ions at m/z 201, which were used in quantitative analysis. Material for analysis included 41 samples of blood collected from six poisoned patients who took a toxic dose of valproic acid with the aim of committing suicide. They had a history of epilepsy or mood disturbances and were treated with valproic acid alone or in combination with psychotropic drugs. A comparison of the FPIA results with those obtained by a reference method (GC-MS) showed no statistical difference. The correlation coefficient was 0.9814. The good correlation between the two methods, the simplicity and short run time of the FPIA could make it useful in clinical practice. The reference GC-MS method may be used in a study of metabolic profiling of valproic acid. © by the Institute of Forensic Research.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; female; male; alcohol; alcoholism; depression; scoring system; comorbidity; disease severity; Valproic acid; drug overdose; mood disorder; alcohol intoxication; epilepsy; article; laxative; mental disease; clinical article; drug intoxication; mass spectrometry; amitriptyline; haloperidol; psychopharmacotherapy; drug blood level; gas chromatography; carbamazepine; asthma; valproic acid; anticonvulsant therapy; drug half life; intermethod comparison; drug metabolite; infusion fluid; carbon; quantitative analysis; fluorescence polarization immunoassay; FPIA; chlorprothixene; hydroxyzine; analytical equipment; deuterium; mass spectrometer; Human serum; GC-MS; isotope labeling