[The correlation of results of breath analysers and laboratory blood examinations of blood-ethanol concentration (Czech and Slovak study)].

The target of this study was to compare the results of breath analysers and "lege artis" laboratory blood examinations when determining alcohol levels. This was then used to determine whether any differences exist between the two methods, and how large these differences are. 610 cases from 11 workplaces in the Czech Republic and Slovakia were analysed.

Detection and determination of abused hallucinogens in biological material.

Objectives: Until recently, routine toxicological analysis of some hallucinogens in biological material posed problems which were only resolved after the introduction of modern analytic systems into toxicological laboratories. The most frequent hallucinogens in clinical and forensic toxicology can be grouped as: cannabinoids, tropane alkaloids, N,N-dimethyltryptamine derivatives and synthetic or semisynthetic hallucinogens.

Methods & Results: There are several methods currently used for their analysis.

Possibilities and problems with identification and determination of "new" hypnotics.

Authors discuss problems with identification and determination of flunitrazepam and zolpidem in biological material (BM). Over the recent years, these two structurally different substances have become the most frequently used as well as abused hypnotic drugs. This study presents applicability of immunochemical methods in the screening of flunitrazepam, one of the most commonly prescribed drugs among the benzodiazepines.

[Contribution to the problem of acute methanol poisoning].

The thanatological problem of acute methanol intoxications, similarly as the method of laboratory assessment, are urgent issues. Absolute levels of methanol concentration in blood are from the aspect of prognosis and lethal course resp. less important than the pH of blood and the value of the "base excess" [BE] on the one hand and cerebral oedema on the other hand.