ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

Screening for Barbiturates in Vitreous Humor by the EMIT®-st Serum Enzyme Immunoassay
Penttilä, A
Assistant toxicologist, chief toxicologist, toxicologist, and associate professor and chief, University of Helsinki,

Vuori, E
Assistant toxicologist, chief toxicologist, toxicologist, and associate professor and chief, University of Helsinki,

Ojanperä, I
Assistant toxicologist, chief toxicologist, toxicologist, and associate professor and chief, University of Helsinki,

Nieminen, R
Assistant toxicologist, chief toxicologist, toxicologist, and associate professor and chief, University of Helsinki,

(Received 13 June 1985; accepted 1 July 1985)

Abstract

In 16 medical examiner's cases, which were found to be barbiturate-positive by thin-layer chromatographic screening of the liver, blood barbiturate concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. The corresponding vitreous humor samples were screened by the enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique, the EMIT®-st serum barbiturate assay. By using the recommended dilution for detecting serum barbiturates, it was possible to detect barbiturates in vitreous humor at a toxic concentration. By using one fourth the amount of diluent, the barbiturates could be detected also at a therapeutic concentration. The EMIT-st assay proved to be useful in the screening for barbiturates in vitreous humor, a material that is readily available in forensic toxicology.

Keywords:
toxicology, barbiturates, vitreous humor, immunoassay

Paper ID: JFS12303J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12303J
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