From my memory, waste left over from the Technicon continuous flow calcium
assay was collected in a separate container to avoid the potential
interaction of potassium cyanide in the reagent with acidic waste from other
assays, thus avoiding the formation of a very toxic gas.
KCN was added to the calcium reagent to stabilise the red calcium
o-cresolphthalein complex which forms at alkaline pH (KCN also removed heavy
metal interference).
I cannot remember, however, if something was added to the waste to render it
"safe" before disposal by a toxic waste company. Someone else may remember
what was done.
Interestingly ferricyanide reagent, which was used in some continuous flow
"glucose" assays, did not have this problem as cyanide is not released from
ferricyanide.
While non-specific chemical glucose assays were rapidly replaced by
enzymatic assays ( hexokinase, GOD, GDH ), this has not been the case for
creatinine !!!!!
Any comments on why chemical glucose assays have been much easier to replace
than chemical creatinine assays !!!!
Michael Peake
(retired)
Biochemistry Department
Flinders Medical Centre
Bedford Park
South Australia
08-84 43 3332
-----Original Message-----
From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Miller
Sent: Tuesday, 9 November 2010 4:48 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Cyanide poisoning SMAC
You are referring to the interesting proximity of the lines containing
Liebermann-Burchard reagent for cholesterol and the cresophthalein
complexone for calcium..........never did me any harm ......."I just love
the smell of almonds in the morning"
Nick Miller
London
On 8 November 2010 16:45, Elizabeth MacNamara
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I am giving a lecture to postgrads on how the lab has changed. I have a
photo of a SMAC but can't remember what the two chemistries were that if the
tubes leaked could cause cyanide gas to be produced. I think the acid came
from the protein but can't be sure.
>
> Is there some old codger out there with brain cells a little more agile
than mine.
>
> Liz Mac Namara
> Jewish General Hospital
> Montreal
>
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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.
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