RESUMEN
We investigated false-positive reactions obtained from a drug screening test using a Triage panel. We detected 2 cases giving false-positive reaction for AMP (amphetamine, methamphetamine) during the screening of 187 normal subjects. Subsequent follow up testing by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), showed both to be false-positive reactions. As both cases have a history of ingesting the herbal drug, Ma-huang (Ephedra sinica (Ephedraceae)), containing ephedrine, we examined the relationship between false-positive reactions on Triage and Ma-huang. All urine samples collected from 7 healthy volunteers following administration of Ma-huang indicated AMP positive on Triage. Also a high ratio of AMP positives was observed in the patients who were administered Ma-huang-containing drugs at the hospital. However, none of them were identified as true-positives by HPLC or gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. The extract of Ma-huang contained in herbal drugs, which otherwise contain neither amphetamine nor its derivatives, gives (AMP) positive indications on Triage. We speculate that unidentified components of Ma-huang cause the false-positive reactions. We suggest that follow-up tests by GC/MS or HPLC are needed wherever a positive result is obtained from a screening test by Triage. Furthermore, it will be established to continue collecting information on prescribed and non-prescribed drugs.
Asunto(s)
Medicamentos Herbarios Chinos/uso terapéutico , Ephedra sinica/química , Detección de Abuso de Sustancias/métodos , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/diagnóstico , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Presión , Reacciones Falso Positivas , Femenino , Humanos , Indoles/orina , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
Nonvolatile and thermolabile antibiotics are investigated both by field desorption and by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). It has been successfully demonstrated that these two methods are complementary in obtaining informations about molecular weight and structure. Although FD is most widely used for the investigation of nonvolatile biologically active compounds, there are some compounds of which FD can not provide reliable information. SIMS is successfully applied to obtain structural information of these compounds. SIMS spectra frequently depend on the surface conditions of sample holder materials.