ABSTRACT
A rapid method for determining paracetamol (acetaminophen) in whole blood and liver tissue samples is described. Blank plus single-point calibration gives reliable quantitation at therapeutic and higher concentrations. Whole blood and liver tissue samples containing a deuterated internal standard were extracted using Bond Elut Certify columns. Butyl derivatives were formed using n-iodobutane and tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide under mild conditions and were extracted into ethyl acetate as a cleanup step. Recovery was better than 90%, and sample preparation time was less than 2 h. Gas chromatograph run time was less than 20 min. SIM of two ion pairs formed by electron impact ionization resulted in intraday coefficients of variation (CV) less than 3.03% (7.48% in liver) and interday CVs less than 8.93% (for midtherapeutic concentrations in whole blood). Linearity was observed from subtherapeutic to high, fatal levels. This method has been applied to forensic cases and has significantly reduced analytical time while improving casework quality. Results of a case study involving paracetamol are given.
Subject(s)
Acetaminophen/analysis , Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/analysis , Acetaminophen/blood , Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/blood , Calibration , Deuterium , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Humans , Liver/chemistry , Reference Standards , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
A rapid method for simultaneously determining the anticonvulsant drugs carbamazepine, ethosuximide, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, primidone, and valproic acid is described. Blank plus single-point calibration gives reliable quantitation from therapeutic to high fatal concentrations, except for ethosuximide, for which it gives semiquantitative results. Whole blood and liver tissue samples containing deuterated internal standards were extracted using Bond Elut Certify columns. Butyl derivatives were formed using n-iodobutane and TMAH under mild conditions and were extracted into ethyl acetate as a cleanup step. Recoveries were greater than 50%, except for valproic acid (42%). Sample preparation time was less than 2 h, and the GC run time was less than 20 min per injection. At least two ion pairs formed by electron impact ionization were monitored for each drug. Intraday CVs were less than 6.28% (4.20%) and interday CVs less than 14.1% (for midtherapeutic concentrations in blood [liver], except for ethosuximide). Linearity was observed from subtherapeutic to high fatal levels for all drugs. This method has been applied to forensic cases and has significantly reduced analytical time while improving case-work quality. Results of a case study involving anticonvulsant drugs are given.
Subject(s)
Anticonvulsants/analysis , Deuterium/chemistry , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods , Blood Chemical Analysis , Epilepsy/blood , Fatal Outcome , Forensic Medicine/methods , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/instrumentation , Humans , Liver/chemistry , Male , Reference Standards , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
In response to the need for nurses with advanced degrees, Lehman College of The City University of New York instituted a special pathway to graduate education for registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees in other disciplines. More commonly referred to as the non-BSN program, this alternative pathway has provided the opportunity for approximately 65 registered nurses to obtain the masters degree in nursing during the past six years. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the bridge course in preparing registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than nursing for graduate nursing education.
