Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System
PADLS Conferences Spring 2001 3. Analytical Toxicology
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Steps required to develop or improve testing procedures in a diagnostic laboratory are discussed. Availability of analytical standards, standard reference materials and compatibility of the available instrumentation with the nature of the particular toxicant are just the initial considerations required for method development. Other important issues such as the sample matrix clean-up procedures, sample volume and time required for analysis are addressed. Screening analysis for anticoagulant rodenticides, carbamates and purines are just some examples used to address challenges in method development and detection. The same type of analyses applies to inorganic compounds such as minerals. Sensitivity of an individual method, method detection limit, is determined based on the available standards and toxicant recovery from fortified matrices. In conclusion, screening for ionophores is used as an example to address the need for an ongoing process of method optimization even when a valid procedure has been established.

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