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Journal de Pharmacie Clinique

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Urine benzodiazepines screening of involuntarily drugged patients : comparison between two methods Volume 18, issue 1, Mars 1999

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This study involved 37 patients who claimed to have been drugged before being robbed or raped, despite urine negative toxicologic screening by immunoenzymatic methods. The urines were investigated by two methods of screening. First, the Triage® method (Merck) which is a competitive immunoassay containing monoclonal antibodies directed against benzodiazepines and their metabolites ; then the Emit detection applied on concentrated urine extract obtained by first an enzymatic hydrolysis of urinary conjugates and then, a liquid-solid extraction. On Triage® screening, 5 of 37 urines samples were benzodiazepine positive (14 %). Enrichment of urines detected 8 urines on 37 (22 %). Although Triage® method detected less benzodiazepine than Emit applied on concentrated urine, Triage® method is attractive in toxicology of emergency considering his rapidity and ease of use.