Screening for urinary amphetamine in truck drivers and drug addicts.

Sixty-two urine samples from truck drivers and drug addicts were analysed by TDx (Abbott Laboratories) for amphetamines. Eighteen samples were found to be positive while the rest were negative. The eighteen samples were simultaneously determined for amphetamines by EMIT (Syva Company). Sixteen samples were found to be positive and 2 of negative samples had amphetamines levels of 0.48-0.85 micrograms/mL. When the same samples were subjected to qualitative screening and some were found false negative as follows: 7 cases in Color Test by using test solution kits amphetamine in urine (the Department of Medical Science, Ministry of Public Health), 8 cases by Albuscreen Ontrax for amphetamine (Roche Diagnostic System), 5 cases by amphetamine Double Antibody 125I-RIA (Diagnostic Products Corporation-DPC) and 3 cases by the method of Ten-One (DPC) respectively. But when forty four samples which gave negative results by TDx were subjected to Testing by EMIT and Ontrax. The results of both EMIT and Ontrax were negative. Some of forty four samples were false positive by the Color Test solution kit amphetamines in urine and amphetamine Double Antibody 125I-RIA. Reliability of results reported not only depends on the methodology or principle but also the sensitivity of the method.

Altered biochemistry substances, hematocrit and white blood cell count in cigarette smokers and alcohol drinkers.

The level of glucose, uric acid, cholesterol triglycerides and transminase (SGOT and SGPT) and also hematological data of hematocrit and white cell count of 1,542 workers age ranging from 35-53 years who came for physical check up during B.E. 2532 – 2534 were analysed for the groups of smokers, drinkers and smokers together with drinkers. All the three groups have significantly high level of biochemistry substances, hematocrit and white cell count than normal group (p < 0.005) except HDL-Cholesterol which is significantly lower than the normal group (p < 0.005). However, the white cell count of habitual drinkers and cholesterol level in smokers together with drinkers have no significantly different from the normal. We categorie the number of cigarette smoked by both questionnaires and the thiocyanate levels, and found the serum thiocyanate levels correlates with the number of cigarette smoked (p < 0.001).

Screening health of battary manufacture workers.

Eighty male (32.4 + 7.1 years, 59.3 + 8.9 kg) and 17 females (32.5 + 6.5 years, 56.7 + 11.9 kg) from a battary factory were investigated. From personel history taking and physical examination it was found that the workers showed no signs of physical abnormalities. Laboratory results that were found to be abnormal are as follows (number of cases) : glucose 2, creatinine 1, uric acid 12, triglycerides 14, cholesterol 13, SGOT 2, SGPT 2, y-glutamyl transferase 21, calcium (high) 2, Calcium (low) 25 inorganic phosphate (high) 5, 6, inorganic phosphate (low) 8, ESR 30, haemoglobin (high) 2, haemoglobin (low) 7, haematocrit (high) 5, haematocrit (low) 1, white blood cell count (low) 7, eosinophil 19, monocyte 2, basophillic stippling 8. Abnormality in urinalysis found are : albumin 11, sugar 1, white cell 2, coproporphyrin (+ ve) 23 and ๐-aminolevulinic acid (urine) 30, ๐-aminolevulinic dehydratase (red cell) 16, and hepatitis B antigen positive 7 the results of such investigation can be of help to factory administrators in setting up preventive measure for maintenance of optimal health of workers.