News
08-December 2011
– The
heart of the matter – LGC improves therapeutic drug monitoring for
cardiac
arrhythmia
New digoxin matrix reference materials ensure
optimum therapeutic effect for improved patient
care
LGC, the UK’s designated National
Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical
measurement, has developed two new clinical reference materials for
digoxin; a drug instrumental in the treatment of congestive heart
failure and cardiac arrhythmia.
Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic range in humans - above the
therapeutic range and digoxin is highly toxic, below and the
treatment is ineffective. You may remember the scene in Casino
Royale where James Bond tries to defibrillate himself after being
poisoned by a Vesper Martini tainted with digoxin. He develops
ventricular tachycardia, an increased rhythm of the heart, which
can lead to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death.
LGC’s two new reference materials, which closely match the upper
and lower levels for digoxin monitoring, are both certified as
European Reference Materials (ERM®) and made under LGC’s
accreditation to ISO Guide 34 for the production of reference
materials. They are intended for use by clinical laboratories for
determining digoxin levels in human serum through method validation
and performance monitoring of methods, providing an effective means
of measurement traceability.
Gill Holcombe, Head of Reference Material
Production at LGC explains: “Assays for determining levels
of digoxin in human serum are independently calibrated but without
traceability to an accepted high order reference material. This
means that concentration values may not be comparable between
different methods or hospital laboratories, posing potential risks
to patients. LGC’s new reference materials will improve confidence
in measurement, helping clinicians to ensure optimum therapeutic
effect and minimise the occurrence of adverse events.”
The reference materials, ERM®-DA200a Frozen Human Serum –
Digoxin, High Level and ERM®-DA201a Frozen Human Serum - Digoxin,
Low Level are available from LGC
Standards (www.lgcstandards.com), the
division of LGC that provides products and services to improve
measurement in the laboratory. For prices and ordering information,
please email: uksales@lgcstandards.com or
call +44 (0)20 8943 8480.
This work was funded by the UK National Measurement System.
-Ends-
Notes to editors