Radioimmunoassay of Clomipramine (Anafranil-Geigy): A Tricyclic Antidepressant

摘要

A radioimmunoassay has been developed for the tricyclic antidepressant, clomipramine (Anafranil-Geigy) which allows accurate determination of plasma levels without a pr-assay purification step. This is achieved by generation of specific antisera using an antigen produced by conjugation of clomipramine to bovine serum albumin via the 10,11 bridge positions. As expected cross reaction of the pharmacologically active major metabolite, desmethylclomipramine was 5% and that of didesmethyclomipramine 1%. Specificity was confirmed by comparing titres achieved in the routine assay with those observed in an assay incorporating a pre-assay thin layer chromatographic purification step. Pharmacokinetic data were in agreement with double radioisotope derivative assays and also with previously reported assays using G.C. or G.C./M.S. techniques. The sensitivity is superior to any previous assay known to us for this class of compound. The specificity and precision, coupled with the high sample turnover (greater than 300 samples/week per technician) make the assay ideal for supervision of patient compliance and routine assay of samples generated in large clinical trials. (Atomindex citation 09:389316)