ABSTRACT
Pathologists and veterinary toxicologists have a natural affinity for planar chromatography. The qualitative assessments are best done by a combination of selective cleanups, multiple planar chromatography surfaces, and solvent systems to allow the greatest differentiation of the analytes. Planar chromatography allows screening, confirmation, and quantitation depending on the gravity and economics of the case. The same principle can be used with planar chromatography. The complex can be extracted with cyclohexane and analyzed by fluorescence spectrometry, atomic absorption, or planar chromatography. The South Africans have developed an extraction and cleanup procedure, and Rottinghaus has developed a planar chromatography analysis procedure. Many veterinary clinics obtained the equipment to do this test in the field. Veterinary toxicology in the field, in the clinic, and in the diagnostic lab is well served by thin-layer chromatography. Fungal metabolites are the most analyzed group of substances in veterinary practice after antibiotics and antimicrobials.
