Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Otago on 12/29/14 For personal use only.
CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY 8(3), pp. 333-336 (1975)
A Training Program in Bioanalytical Toxicology*
MAN M. KOCHHAR, Ph.D., and LARRY L. NEEDHAM, Ph.D. Drug Abuse Screening Program School of Pharmacy Auburn University Auburn, Alabama
In July, 1973, the School of Pharmacy of Auburn University initiated a Drug Abuse Screening Training Program for high school, junior college, and college graduates. The purpose of the program was to train students to screen abused drugs in biologic specimens, street sample analyses, and field tests. The program was also to be used to identify individuals having an exceptional potential for toxicologic technology and to motivate such individuals to undergo higher levels of education. In this article the need for this kind of program, the program itself, and future plans are elaborated. Through discussions with various agencies and laboratories, it was found that there was a great need for technical personnel [ 11. As the number of drug analysis laboratories (and drug treatment centers) increases, there will be yet a greater demand for technicians who a r e primarily trained in toxicology. A review of the literature revealed that although there were a few graduate [2, 31 and currently undergraduate programs [ 41 in toxicology, there was no program for the training of technicians. Thus, this program *This program is supported by a grant (#TO2 DA 00157 02) from Department of Housing, Education and Welfare, Manpower and Training Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse.
333 Copyright 0 1975 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Neither this work nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Otago on 12/29/14 For personal use only.
334
KOCHHAR AND NEEDHAM
was designed to train personnel of various levels of education in the use of toxicologic methods. In addition, after a year of training, technicians would be prepared to work in laboratories with a minimum of guidance. The first class consisted of 15 trainees. Of these 15, four had a baccalaureate degree, five had two to three years of college, and six were high school graduates with little o r no college education. Five women, four Negroes (three of whom are women), and one Asian were included in the original 15. In addition to all university expenses being paid, a stipend of $200 monthly is provided to each trainee. The program was designed to be taught by a team of the pharmacy faculty. The first part of the course consisted of basic pharmacology and toxicology. Also much emphasis was placed on basic chemistry such as normality, pH, etc. Laboratory time was spent on the use of the balance and the pH meter; from this knowledge buffered solutions were prepared. Also the principles of extraction were taught and various extraction procedures were practiced. The focal point of the program is the m a s s screening of abused drugs. Since thin-layer chromatography is one of the simplest, cheapest, fastest (in the sense that one can screen 10 samples per sheet), and most accurate techniques in the detection of drugs of abuse, this method was given the greatest amount of time. The use of various solvents and plates were taught and discussed. In this, as well as other analytical methods, urine was spiked with drugs of abuse, such as barbiturates, amphetamines, opiates, and others. The trainees were tested periodically by written examinations and very frequently by the identification of unknowns. Another method used was gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), which is often used to confirm the results of thin-layer chromatography. The principles of chromatography were taught along with the practical aspects of gas-liquid chromatography, including the choice of carrier gas and its flow rate, temperature, stationary phases, and solid support. Quantitative analysis by GLC was also discussed and practiced. Trouble shooting the gas chromatograph was stressed Ultraviolet spectroscopy was another method that was used. The basic concepts of ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy were introduced along with the application of U V in drug abuse screening and the interpretation of data. By the use of the Lambert-Beer's equation, quantitation of the U V spectra was taught. Spectrofluorometry was also employed. Immunoassays such as radioimmunoassay (Ff.IA) and enzymemultiplied immunoassay techniques (EMIT)were taught and practiced.
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Otago on 12/29/14 For personal use only.
BIOANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY
335
Previous to RIA laboratory work, a 30-hr course in radiological safety was taught. Successful completion, as evidenced by a certificate, allows one to work with radioactive material. Morphine was the principle drug used in RIA analysis. The EMIT analyzes for barbiturates, amphetamines, opiates, methadone, and cocaine. Sensitivity limits were compared among the various methods of analyses. Another method that was given attention is the use of preliminary spot tests. Since the students have such different educational backgrounds, some were allowed to proceed faster and were given more theory than others. A s one of the final parts of their training, the students visit and work approximately one week at a toxicology laboratory.* Here, they work with the regular employees doing extractions, EMIT, GLC, and TLC. The first class of students has completed this one-year, 5 hr daily program and their certificates were awarded in summer of 1974. We are certain that they will make substantial contributions to their employers. SUMMARY Students of diversified backgrounds a r e taught methods used in bioanalytical toxicology such a s TLC, GLC, RIA, EMIT, UV, and spectrofluorometry. Major emphasis is placed on the detection of abused drugs in biologic specimens. It was found that the students with more advanced formal education have learned the lecture theory and instrumentation quicker and in greater detail. However, as far as the ability to work rapidly and accurately, many of the trainees who have had less formal education have shown better ability. Perhaps i t could be said that the theory is a science, whereas the work is an art. This a r t through practice can be better developed by some people regardless of education. On completion of this training, they will be able to help fill the great need for toxicologic technicians.
*Drug Abuse Laboratory, State of Georgia, Atlanta.
33 6
KOCHHAR AND NEEDHAM REFERENCES
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Otago on 12/29/14 For personal use only.
[ l] For an article dealing with the need of trained personnel see I. Sunshine, Toxicology-A retrospective and prospective look, Clin. Chem., g,112 (1974). [2] "Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Toxicology, '' Section of Teachers of Biological Sciences, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Washington, D. C., 1968. [ 31 "Annual Report: Educational Committee, Attachment 6, Society of Toxicology, Inc., Washington, D.C., 1968. [ 41 V. deP. Lynch, A baccalaureate program in toxicology, 2. Forensic S c i , 142 (1974).
CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY 8(3), pp. 333-336 (1975)
A Training Program in Bioanalytical Toxicology*
MAN M. KOCHHAR, Ph.D., and LARRY L. NEEDHAM, Ph.D. Drug Abuse Screening Program School of Pharmacy Auburn University Auburn, Alabama
In July, 1973, the School of Pharmacy of Auburn University initiated a Drug Abuse Screening Training Program for high school, junior college, and college graduates. The purpose of the program was to train students to screen abused drugs in biologic specimens, street sample analyses, and field tests. The program was also to be used to identify individuals having an exceptional potential for toxicologic technology and to motivate such individuals to undergo higher levels of education. In this article the need for this kind of program, the program itself, and future plans are elaborated. Through discussions with various agencies and laboratories, it was found that there was a great need for technical personnel [ 11. As the number of drug analysis laboratories (and drug treatment centers) increases, there will be yet a greater demand for technicians who a r e primarily trained in toxicology. A review of the literature revealed that although there were a few graduate [2, 31 and currently undergraduate programs [ 41 in toxicology, there was no program for the training of technicians. Thus, this program *This program is supported by a grant (#TO2 DA 00157 02) from Department of Housing, Education and Welfare, Manpower and Training Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse.
333 Copyright 0 1975 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Neither this work nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Otago on 12/29/14 For personal use only.
334
KOCHHAR AND NEEDHAM
was designed to train personnel of various levels of education in the use of toxicologic methods. In addition, after a year of training, technicians would be prepared to work in laboratories with a minimum of guidance. The first class consisted of 15 trainees. Of these 15, four had a baccalaureate degree, five had two to three years of college, and six were high school graduates with little o r no college education. Five women, four Negroes (three of whom are women), and one Asian were included in the original 15. In addition to all university expenses being paid, a stipend of $200 monthly is provided to each trainee. The program was designed to be taught by a team of the pharmacy faculty. The first part of the course consisted of basic pharmacology and toxicology. Also much emphasis was placed on basic chemistry such as normality, pH, etc. Laboratory time was spent on the use of the balance and the pH meter; from this knowledge buffered solutions were prepared. Also the principles of extraction were taught and various extraction procedures were practiced. The focal point of the program is the m a s s screening of abused drugs. Since thin-layer chromatography is one of the simplest, cheapest, fastest (in the sense that one can screen 10 samples per sheet), and most accurate techniques in the detection of drugs of abuse, this method was given the greatest amount of time. The use of various solvents and plates were taught and discussed. In this, as well as other analytical methods, urine was spiked with drugs of abuse, such as barbiturates, amphetamines, opiates, and others. The trainees were tested periodically by written examinations and very frequently by the identification of unknowns. Another method used was gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), which is often used to confirm the results of thin-layer chromatography. The principles of chromatography were taught along with the practical aspects of gas-liquid chromatography, including the choice of carrier gas and its flow rate, temperature, stationary phases, and solid support. Quantitative analysis by GLC was also discussed and practiced. Trouble shooting the gas chromatograph was stressed Ultraviolet spectroscopy was another method that was used. The basic concepts of ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy were introduced along with the application of U V in drug abuse screening and the interpretation of data. By the use of the Lambert-Beer's equation, quantitation of the U V spectra was taught. Spectrofluorometry was also employed. Immunoassays such as radioimmunoassay (Ff.IA) and enzymemultiplied immunoassay techniques (EMIT)were taught and practiced.
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Otago on 12/29/14 For personal use only.
BIOANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY
335
Previous to RIA laboratory work, a 30-hr course in radiological safety was taught. Successful completion, as evidenced by a certificate, allows one to work with radioactive material. Morphine was the principle drug used in RIA analysis. The EMIT analyzes for barbiturates, amphetamines, opiates, methadone, and cocaine. Sensitivity limits were compared among the various methods of analyses. Another method that was given attention is the use of preliminary spot tests. Since the students have such different educational backgrounds, some were allowed to proceed faster and were given more theory than others. A s one of the final parts of their training, the students visit and work approximately one week at a toxicology laboratory.* Here, they work with the regular employees doing extractions, EMIT, GLC, and TLC. The first class of students has completed this one-year, 5 hr daily program and their certificates were awarded in summer of 1974. We are certain that they will make substantial contributions to their employers. SUMMARY Students of diversified backgrounds a r e taught methods used in bioanalytical toxicology such a s TLC, GLC, RIA, EMIT, UV, and spectrofluorometry. Major emphasis is placed on the detection of abused drugs in biologic specimens. It was found that the students with more advanced formal education have learned the lecture theory and instrumentation quicker and in greater detail. However, as far as the ability to work rapidly and accurately, many of the trainees who have had less formal education have shown better ability. Perhaps i t could be said that the theory is a science, whereas the work is an art. This a r t through practice can be better developed by some people regardless of education. On completion of this training, they will be able to help fill the great need for toxicologic technicians.
*Drug Abuse Laboratory, State of Georgia, Atlanta.
33 6
KOCHHAR AND NEEDHAM REFERENCES
Clinical Toxicology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Otago on 12/29/14 For personal use only.
[ l] For an article dealing with the need of trained personnel see I. Sunshine, Toxicology-A retrospective and prospective look, Clin. Chem., g,112 (1974). [2] "Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Toxicology, '' Section of Teachers of Biological Sciences, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Washington, D. C., 1968. [ 31 "Annual Report: Educational Committee, Attachment 6, Society of Toxicology, Inc., Washington, D.C., 1968. [ 41 V. deP. Lynch, A baccalaureate program in toxicology, 2. Forensic S c i , 142 (1974).
