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A GP colleague has just sent me a copy of a document from the North West Medicines Information service entitled 'Drug Information Letter, Monitoring Drug Therapy'. (NHS UKMi) This six page document contains suggested monitoring and frequency of biochemical and haematological markers for a variety of cardiovascular, respiratory system, CNS, antipsychotic, endocrine system, and musculoskeletal/joint disease drugs. I am unsure how evidence based the recommendations are, but the main source of reference appears to be BNF and the product summary characteristics. The tests listed are said to be 'suggested monitoring', but I have grave concerns that such a document ends up being quoted as gospel. I have also no doubt that if the recommendations are followed there will be a further uncontrolled and unresourced escalation in work load ( and may be this has already happened). Whilst a document of this nature is quite a good idea, there could obviously be several debatable recommendations (for example does everyone measure baseline CK on patients before starting statins... what is the evidence and should I be?) I have several concerns that it has been produced apparently without any consultation at all with Laboratory professionals either within this Region or Nationally. It is also rather embarrasing to be informed of such a document via your General Practioners and for protocols to be invoked and samples referred to your laboratory without knowledge of the 'recomendations' they are following. Are similar documents in circulation in other Regions, as I imagine there is probably some networking of our Pharmacy colleagues and do we need to do something to ensure that we are invited to participate in the production of similar material. Eric Hindle. ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/