Whole Blood Robotic Cholinesterase Assay for Organophosphate Exposure - Testing Soldiers, First Responders, and Civilians in the Field and Laboratory

Abstract

Exposure to organophosphate (OP) chemical warfare agents (CWAs), pesticides, anesthetics, drugs such as cocaine, and a variety of therapeutic drugs including donepezil or rivastigmine for Alzheimer's disease reduces red blood cell acetylcholinesterase (RBC-AChE) or serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity. The activity of RBC-AChE and BChE can be used as potential biomarkers of suppressed and/or heightened function in the central and peripheral nervous systems. For instance, the toxicity of pesticides is well documented in humans. Therefore, blood cholinesterase (ChE) activity can be exploited as a tool for confirming exposure to these agents and possible treatments. Yet it is the OP CWAs that are some of the most potent and irreversible inhibitors that can produce excessive accumulation of acetylcholine, and a cholinergic crisis in man leading to paralysis and ultimately death. Current assays for measurement of erythrocytebound acetylcholinesterase (RBC-AChE) and serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, pseudocholinesterase) require several labor-intensive processing steps, suffer from wide statistical variation, and inter-laboratory comparison is often difficult. Techniques currently used include the Ellman and microEllman microtiter method, radiometric, amperometric, and delta (delta) pH (modified Michel protocol) used by the U.S. Army's Cholinesterase Reference Laboratories (CRL). Such methods determine only the serum BChE or RBC-AChE, and require the use of specific ChE inhibitors or sample processing such as centrifugation.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA432861

Entities

People

  • Bhupendra P. Doctor
  • David E. Lenz
  • Gregory E. Garcia
  • Julian R. Haigh
  • Lee J. Lefkowitz
  • Michael A. Riel
  • Paul S. Aisen
  • Richard K. Gordon
  • Shawn R. Feaster
  • Wilson Smart

Organizations

  • Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acetylcholinesterases
  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Blood
  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Clinical Trials
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Drug Abuse
  • Health Services
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Medical Personnel
  • Nerve Agents
  • Nervous System
  • Peripheral Nervous System
  • Pesticides
  • Poisoning
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Neurotoxicology

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Bayesian Inference
  • Autonomy