In Handbook of Drug Monitoring Methods: Therapeutics and Drug Abuse, authors discuss the different analytical techniques used in todaya (TM)s practice of therapeutic drug monitoring and drugs of abuse as well as alcohol testing with relevant theory, mechanism, and in-depth scientific discussion on each topic. This volume is the perfect handbook and quick reference for any clinical laboratory, allowing clinicians to find the potential source of a false-positive or a false-negative result in the daily operation of a toxicology laboratory. At the same time, this book can also be used as a reference for medical technologists, supervisors, laboratory directors, clinical chemists, toxicologists, and pathologists to find in-depth cause of a potential interference and what tests can be ordered to circumvent such problem. The volumea (TM)s first half focuses on various issues of therapeutic drug monitoring. Additional chapters cover analysis of heavy metals, alcohol testing, and issues of drugs of abuse testing. These chapters are written by experts in their relative sub-specialties and also by the editor. Comprehensive and timely, Handbook of Drug Monitoring Methods: Therapeutics and Drug Abuse is the ideal text for clinicians and researchers monitoring alcohol and drug testing and other important tasks of toxicological laboratory services.

For drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, therapeutic drug monitoring methods are essential for patient management. Although immunoassays are commercially available for many drugs and most laboratories use these assays for routine therapeutic monitoring, they have many limitations which hinder their efficacy. Providing practical guidelines for implementing preferred gas and liquid chromatographic methods, Advances in Chromatographic Techniques for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring is a comprehensive reference describing the theory and application of therapeutic drug monitoring in clinical laboratories. Edited by a distinguished authority in the field and containing contributions from a variety of experts, the book discusses preanalytical variables, the pitfalls of immunoassays, tandem mass spectrometry, issues related to pain management and herbal supplements, and therapeutic drug monitoring for a range of medications, including: Anticonvulsants Digitalis Cardioactive drugs Antidepressants Immunosuppressants Anti-cancer drugs Vancomycin and aminoglycosides Antibiotics Antiretroviral drugs Nonnarcotic analgesics Anti-inflammatory drugs Examing older and newer drugs, the book contains detailed discussions on the rationale for therapeutic drug monitoring of each class of drugs, along with their basic pharmacology and toxicology. An extensive list of references is provided at the end of each chapter so that those interested in implementing a new drug assay can find the most appropriate method for the intended drug.

A majority of the Fortune 500 Companies implement some practice of workplace drug testing in their company policies. This practice was first initiated by President Ronald Reagan when he ordered federal agencies to drug test federal employees involved in sensitive positions as well as positions involving public safety.

As a practicing toxicologist, Dr. Amitava Dasgupta is involved with the pre-employment drug testing at his own hospital and aptly shares his expertise in Beating Drug Tests and Defending Positive Results: A Toxicologist 's Perspective, which covers all major issues concerning how people try to beat drug tests and defend positive test results. In each chapter, extensive references are cited so that readers can access more information on a particular topic that may interest them. The book will undoubtedly prove helpful to toxicologists, medical technologists, pathologists, human resources professionals and anyone interested in workplace drug testing.

For drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, therapeutic drug monitoring methods are essential for patient management. Although immunoassays are commercially available for many drugs and most laboratories use these assays for routine therapeutic monitoring, they have many limitations which hinder their efficacy. Providing practical guidelines for implementing preferred gas and liquid chromatographic methods, Advances in Chromatographic Techniques for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring is a comprehensive reference describing the theory and application of therapeutic drug monitoring in clinical laboratories.

Edited by a distinguished authority in the field and containing contributions from a variety of experts, the book discusses preanalytical variables, the pitfalls of immunoassays, tandem mass spectrometry, issues related to pain management and herbal supplements, and therapeutic drug monitoring for a range of medications, including:

• Anticonvulsants
• Digitalis
• Cardioactive drugs
• Antidepressants
• Immunosuppressants
• Anti-cancer drugs
• Vancomycin and aminoglycosides
• Antibiotics
• Antiretroviral drugs
• Nonnarcotic analgesics
• Anti-inflammatory drugs

Examing older and newer drugs, the book contains detailed discussions on the rationale for therapeutic drug monitoring of each class of drugs, along with their basic pharmacology and toxicology. An extensive list of references is provided at the end of each chapter so that those interested in implementing a new drug assay can find the most appropriate method for the intended drug.

Scientific research has clearly established that drinking in moderation has many health benefits, including maintaining a healthy heart. Yet, many people do not know that drinking red wine protects the heart more than white wine, while beer, margaritas, and hard liquor are less effective in providing such protection. And while alcoholism is a serious problem requiring medical and psychological treatment, for those who are not addicted, drinking alcohol is not necessarily a bad habit. The problem is to distinguish between drinking sensibly and drinking insensibly. Dasgupta clearly outlines what constitutes healthy drinking and its attendant health benefits, offers advice on how to drink responsibly, and provides insight into just how alcohol works on the brain and the body. After reading this book, readers will enjoy their next drink with a fuller and safer understanding of why they're enjoying it.

A majority of the Fortune 500 Companies implement some practice of workplace drug testing in their company policies. This practice was first initiated by President Ronald Reagan when he ordered federal agencies to drug test federal employees involved in sensitive positions as well as positions involving public safety. As a practicing toxicologist, Dr. Amitava Dasgupta is involved with the pre-employment drug testing at his own hospital and aptly shares his expertise in Beating Drug Tests and Defending Positive Results: A Toxicologist's Perspective, which covers all major issues concerning how people try to beat drug tests and defend positive test results. In each chapter, extensive references are cited so that readers can access more information on a particular topic that may interest them. The book will undoubtedly prove helpful to toxicologists, medical technologists, pathologists, human resources professionals and anyone interested in workplace drug testing.

Pharmacogenomics is the basis of personalized medicine, which is said to be the medicine of the future. Understanding genetic variation in drug and alcohol response is vital for professionals working in rehabilitation programs. The same principles that are applicable for therapeutic drugs are also applicable for drugs of abuse. Pharmacogenomics can supplement traditional therapeutic drug monitoring, potentially predicting correct dosage before initiation of the drug therapy. Applying these principles to testing and treatment, Pharmacogenomics of Alcohol and Drugs of Abuse discusses the role of the clinical laboratory in the practice of personalized medicine. With contributions from a range of experts, the book presents the genetic aspects of alcohol metabolism and other drugs including marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines. In addition to basic pharmacogenomic aspects, the book addresses slate and trait markers of drugs of abuse so readers can consider setting appropriate biomarker tests in their clinical laboratory.

Written in a handbook style with specific methods and tips on eliminating false positive and false negative results, this book is a practical guide to the detailed mechanisms of such occurrences.

Herbal supplements are available without prescription in many countries throughout the world and accounting for over $30 billion U.S dollar in sale. A majority of U.S population (25-40%) use herbal supplements while alternative medicines are major forms of therapy in third world countries used by as much as 80% population. Contrary to the popular belief that herbal remedies are safe and effective, many herbal supplements have known toxicity and unexpected laboratory test results may be the early indications of such toxicity. In addition, some herbal products such as St. John's wort can interact with many Western drugs causing increased clearance of such drugs and hence treatment failure. This monograph would provide information on how herbal supplements affect laboratory test results thus patient's safety. This monograph would provide a comprehensive and concise practical guide for laboratory professionals, physicians and other health care professionals. The emphasis of this monograph is to provide clinically relevant information rather than discussing in detail mechanisms of such effect, although brief explanations would be provided for such unexpected test results.

Pharmacogenomics is the basis of personalized medicine, which is said to be the medicine of the future. Understanding genetic variation in drug and alcohol response is vital for professionals working in rehabilitation programs. The same principles that are applicable for therapeutic drugs are also applicable for drugs of abuse. Pharmacogenomics can supplement traditional therapeutic drug monitoring, potentially predicting correct dosage before initiation of the drug therapy. Applying these principles to testing and treatment, Pharmacogenomics of Alcohol and Drugs of Abuse discusses the role of the clinical laboratory in the practice of personalized medicine. With contributions from a range of experts, the book presents the genetic aspects of alcohol metabolism and other drugs including marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines. In addition to basic pharmacogenomic aspects, the book addresses slate and trait markers of drugs of abuse so readers can consider setting appropriate biomarker tests in their clinical laboratory.

Clinical Chemistry, Immunology and Laboratory Quality Control: A Comprehensive Review for Board Preparation, Certification and Clinical Practice, Second Edition presents core topics and 70 case studies that illustrate the application of clinical chemistry knowledge to everyday patient care. This succinct reference offers practical examples of how things function in the pathology clinic with useful lists, key points, case studies and a bullet point format ideal for quick pre-board review. While larger textbooks in clinical chemistry provide highly detailed information regarding instrumentation and statistics, this book is designed to educate senior medical students, residents and fellows on how tests are performed. This second edition successfully helps pathology residents gain command of clinical chemistry, toxicology, immunology, and laboratory statistics in an effort to help them prepare for the American Board of Pathology examination. Clinical chemistry is a topic in which many senior medical students and pathology residents face challenges.

Fighting the Opioid Epidemic: The Role of Providers and the Clinical Laboratory in Understanding Who Is Vulnerable covers the important aspects that are essential in fighting the opioid epidemic. This succinct reference highlights how the toxicology laboratory can play a vital role in fighting the opioid epidemic by implementing a robust system for drugs of abuse testing as well as drug testing in pain management patients. It targets health care professionals in a technical manner, discussing polymorphisms of important genes that may be associated with increased vulnerability of alcohol and drug addiction to an individual.

Antioxidants in Food, Vitamins and Supplements bridges the gap between books aimed at consumers and technical volumes written for investigators in antioxidant research. It explores the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of various diseases as well as antioxidant foods, vitamins, and all antioxidant supplements, including herbal supplements. It offers healthcare professionals a rich resource of key clinical information and basic scientific explanations relevant to the development and prevention of specific diseases. The book is written at an intermediate level, and can be easily understood by readers with a college level chemistry and biology background.

The widely used herbal antidepressant kava is damaging to the liver. Pregnant women should avoid most herbal remedies because of pesticides and preservatives required in the growth and storage of the herbs. Most ayurvedic medicines contain unacceptable levels of lead and other heavy metals. St. John's Wort could complicate any chronic medical condition. Many people see herbal remedies as "natural" and therefore safe, but in "Prescription or Poison?" Dr. Amitava Dasgupta explains that one of his first pharmacology professors taught him that "medicine" is just another word for "poison" and all medicines of any kind should be treated with great caution. This book, written for the layperson but based on solid science and research, explains how toxic many alternative remedies can be, alone or in combination with widely prescribed drug treatments. He includes detailed information on the proper use of alternative medicines and their history of good results, while also cautioning readers in this wake-up call about the casual, often uninformed, and sometimes damaging use of alternative remedies.

Biotin and Other Interferences in Immunoassays: A Concise Guide is aimed at clinical laboratory scientists, medical technologists and pathologists who are often the first individuals contacted by a clinician when a laboratory test result does not correlate with clinical presentation. Research scientists working in diagnostics companies will also find this information essential. Sources of errors in non-immunoassay based methods used in clinical chemistry and toxicology laboratory are also discussed so readers can get all important information from one concise guide. This succinct, user-friendly reference provides the necessary information to address high levels of biotin in clinical laboratory results.

Hematology and Coagulation: A Comprehensive Review for Board Preparation, Certification and Clinical Practice, Second Edition, takes a practical and easy-to-read approach to understanding hematology and coagulation at an appropriate level for both board preparation and refresher courses. The book bridges the gap between large textbooks and medical technology books written for laboratory technicians, providing the sufficient background in genetics, toxicology and immunology that residents and medical students need to know in order to become successful physicians. Readers will use this quick reference to understand how tests are performed and how to interpret results. This clear and easy-to-read presentation of core topics and detailed case studies illustrates the application of hematopathology on patient care.

Clinical Challenges in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Special Populations, Physiological Conditions and Pharmacogenomics focuses on critical issues in therapeutic drug monitoring including special requirements of therapeutic drug monitoring important to special populations (infants and children, pregnant women, elderly patients, and obese patients). The book also covers issues of free drug monitoring and common interferences in using immunoassays for therapeutic drug monitoring. This book is essential reading for any clinician, fellow, or trainee who wants to gain greater insight into the process of therapeutic drug monitoring for individual dosage adjustment and avoiding drug toxicity for certain drugs within a narrow therapeutic window. The book is written specifically for busy clinicians, fellows, and trainees who order therapeutic drug monitoring and need to get more familiar with testing methodologies, issues of interferences, and interpretation of results in certain patient populations.

Alcohol, Drugs, Genes and the Clinical Laboratory provides an overview and quick reference to genetic relationships and clinical laboratory information related to the serious public health issue of alcohol and drug abuse. Written in a clear and concise manner, this book discusses the necessary information for health and safety professionals working in public health to learn about complex issues quickly to better help their patients, employees, and others affected by alcohol and drug abuse. Alcohol, Drugs, Genes and the Clinical Laboratory covers the important aspects of drugs and alcohol abuse including genetic aspects along with laboratory methods for analysis of alcohol and abused drugs with emphasis on false positive test results. The book is helpful to healthcare professionals, such as pathologists who oversee alcohol and drug testing, emergency room physicians, family practice physicians who are first healthcare professionals who identify patients susceptible to drug and alcohol abuse, and psychiatrists involved with drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. It will also be useful to safety professionals who have to assess individuals for workplace responsibilities, ranging from police and recruitment to occupational safety and occupational medicine and public health officials.