Toxicokinetics of the nerve agent (+/-)-VX in anesthetized and atropinized hairless guinea pigs and marmosets after intravenous and percutaneous administration.

In continuation of our investigations on the toxicokinetics of the volatile nerve agents C(+/-)P(+/-)-soman and (+/-)-sarin, we now report on the toxicokinetics of the rather nonvolatile agent (+/-)-VX. A validated method was developed to determine blood levels of (+/-)-VX by means of achiral gas chromatography at blood levels > or =10 pg/ml. The ratio of the two enantiomers of VX in blood could be measured at levels > or =1 ng/ml by using chiral HPLC in combination with off-line gas chromatographic analysis.