Screening for Abused Drugs in Donated Blood

Detection of parvovirus B19 in donated blood: a model system for screening by polymerase chain reaction.

A highly sensitive and rapid method for routinely screening large numbers of donated blood units for parvovirus B19 by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed. Over a 3-month trial period in Edinburgh, B19 DNA was detected in 6 of 20,000 consecutive units of blood (0.03%), in concentrations ranging from 2.4 x 10(4) to 5 x 10(10) copies of viral DNA per ml. Seroconversion for B19-speci...

Importance of creatinine analyses of urine when screening for abused drugs.

We report here a simple method involving urine creatine measurements for testing authenticity and reducing false-negative results in urine testing for drugs of abuse. Urinary creatinine in consecutive patient samples (n = 176) ranged between 0.1 and 31.9 mmol/L (mean 9.8 +/- SD 6.2) and the osmolality in these urines ranged between 49 and 1183 mOsm/kg (mean 595 +/- SD 276). With other consecuti...

[Better screening of abused children].

Investigation of interference by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in urine tests for abused drugs.

Anecdotal and uncontrolled studies have suggested that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs produce false-positive results in immunoassay urine tests for some drugs of abuse. This study was performed in 60 volunteers who took ibuprofen as either a single 400-mg dose, or 200 mg three times a day, or 400 mg three times a day, and in 42 patients taking ibuprofen, naproxyn, or fenoprofen in therape...

rapid screening for synthetic adulterant drugs in herbal slimming products

objective: in recent years the use of herbal slimming supplements has increased in iran. one problem may be the illegal inclusion of synthetic drugs by some manufacturers in these products. the aim of this study is to determine four undeclared synthetic adulterants in some herbal slimming products present in the iranian market. methods: this survey studyresearched six common herbal slimming sup...