ABSTRACT
Toxicological analyses will often be performed before antidotal treatment is initiated, either to establish the diagnosis or to confirm the severity of exposure (Table 9.1). Clearly, normal precautions in sample collection, transport and storage apply, as in other situations (Flanagan, 1995). Transfusion, for example, will invalidate blood or plasma drug or poison assays until equilibrium between blood and tissue drug or poison concentrations has been re-established. Infusion of large amounts of fluid could also unduly influence sample integrity if the sample were to be collected too close to the infusion site.
