I think we would collect the sample to send to a poisons unit but since that would take several hours / days to get analysed since it would have to be transported along way by taxi, the patient would be treated on suspicion. Thus the position of the lab is to confirm diagnosis retrospectively rather than to make any decision on whether treatment is required.
TIM
**********************************************
Prof. Tim Reynolds,
Clinical Chemistry Department,
Queens Hospital,
Belvedere Rd.,
Burton-on-Trent,
STAFFORDSHIRE,
DE13 0RB,
UK.
tel: 01283 511511 ext. 4035
fax: 01283 593064
email: tim.reynolds@queens,burtonh-tr.wmids.nhs.uk
alternative email for the all too frequent occasions when the NHS email connection doesn't work:
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-----Original Message-----
From: p=NHS NATIONAL
INT;a=NHS;c=GB;dda:RFC-822=ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK;
Sent: 16 January 2002 10:41
To: p=NHS NATIONAL
INT;a=NHS;c=GB;dda:RFC-822=ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK;
Subject: Cyanide Posioning
Dear colleagues
I am interested in learning of your institutions' dealing with cases of suspected cyanide
poisoning: what are the roles of the laboratory in this kind of poisoning? Is a plasma or
urine level, or confirmation of presence of cyanide needed? If yes, how soon does the
clinician wants the result?
Many thanks,
Joseph Lee
--
Dr Joseph Lee
Division of Clinical Biochemistry
Queen Mary Hospital
Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 28553200
Fax: (852) 28559915
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