RADIO RECEPTOR ASSAY FOR BENZODIAZEPINES IN PLASMA AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS.

摘要

A rapid and sensitive radioreceptor assay for measuring benzodiazepines in plasma and other biological specimens is described. This method is based on the competition between [3H] diazepam or tritiated flunitrazepam 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; p0.001) were obtained between the "diazepam equivalents" measured in plasma using the radioreceptor assay and the levels of diazepam and N-demethyl diazepam obtained by gas-liquid chromatography. The radioreceptor assay is rapid, sensitive, specific, and requires no sophisticated equipment or methodology. It should therefore prove useful in monitoring blood benzodiazepine levels for both therapeutic and toxicologic purposes.