[W9] Toxicology Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is the difference between a toxin and a toxicant?
Toxin = natural poison; Toxicant = synthetic chemical hazard
What are the four major types of toxicology?
- Occupational
- Environmental
- Forensic
- Clinical
What does pharmacokinetics study?
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of toxins
What does pharmacodynamics study?
How toxins affect the body biochemically/physiologically
What is a creatinine <2.0 mmol/L in urine suggestive of?
Dilution or sample tampering
What metabolite pair is used to detect methadone spiking?
Methadone + absence of EDDP = adulteration
What is the gold standard method for drug screening?
LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry)
What method detects unknown compounds based on exact mass?
Time of Flight MS
Which method is used to measure trace metals like lead and mercury?
ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry)
What is the key tool clinicians use for poisoning treatment guidance?
Toxbase
What is NPIS and what does it do?
National Poisons Information Service – collects data, gives advice, maintains Toxbase
Name three drugs commonly monitored using TDM.
- Vancomycin
- Phenytoin
- Digoxin
What platform is used for routine drug monitoring?
Immunoassay-based automated platforms
Which poisoning shows a high osmolal gap and acidosis?
Ethylene glycol (antifreeze) poisoning
What confirms carbon monoxide poisoning?
↑ Carboxyhaemoglobin on co-oximeter
What metal was involved in the case with confusion, ataxia, pain?
Lead poisoning (↑ lead = 11.83 μmol/L)
What pattern indicates aspirin (salicylate) poisoning?
↑ anion gap, metabolic acidosis
