RT Journal
A1 Skolnick P, Goodwin FK, Paul SM
T1 A rapid and sensitive radioreceptor assay for benzodiazepine in plasma
JF Archives of General Psychiatry
JO Archives of General Psychiatry
YR 1979
FD January 1
VO 36
IS 1
SP 78
OP 80
DO 10.1001/archpsyc.1979.01780010084009
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1979.01780010084009
AB • We describe a rapid and sensitive radioreceptor assay for measuring benzodiazepines in plasma. This method is based on the competition between tritiated diazepam and pharmacologically active benzodiazepines present in plasma, for binding sites on rat brain synaptosomal membranes. No interference is obtained with drug-free plasma or plasma samples containing high concentrations of other commonly used drugs. High correlations (r = 0.98; P <.001) were obtained between the "diazepam equivalents" measured in plasma with the radioreceptor assay and the levels of diazepam and nordiazepam obtained by gas-liquid chromatography. The radioreceptor assay is rapid, sensitive, specific, and requires no sophisticated equipment or methods. It should therefore prove useful in monitoring blood benzodiazepine levels for both therapeutic and toxicologic purposes.