Protocol for sampling and testing blood plasma for 1080

Date: March 2012

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Download sample form (84KB)

1. Introduction

This sampling protocol has been prepared for general practitioners, pathology laboratories, and medical officers of health (MOH), who may be involved in the process of sampling blood from patients to assess the possibility of recent (within 48 hours) exposure to 1080. It provides information on sampling, handling, transport, contact names, and the costs involved. Samples are received and analysed by the Toxicology Laboratory at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln.

Sodium monofluoroacetate (Compound 1080) is a highly water-soluble vertebrate pesticide, used in the control of possums and rabbits. Pest control operations using 1080, particularly the aerial distribution of 1080 baits, are closely monitored by medical officers of health, and in some cases they may specify that samples from waterways close to operational areas are tested for 1080 (see the Protocol for environmental water sampling and testing associated with 1080 pest control operations – Wright 2001).

Though the likelihood of the general public being exposed to 1080 as the result of pest control operations is considered low, circumstances may arise where people present themselves to their local GP and request a blood test for 1080 exposure.

This protocol may also be used by the Department of Conservation or local bodies to submit blood samples from animals where recent 1080 exposure is suspected.

2. Sampling

Blood samples will be taken in 10-mL vacutainer tubes (green top – sodium heparin), and spun down at a local pathology laboratory to provide plasma* samples for transport to the Toxicology Laboratory. Samples should be kept chilled (3–10°C) before despatching.

*The use of plasma samples instead of serum samples will be reviewed once a comparison of the behaviour of 1080 in the two materials has been assessed.

3. Sample integrity

The limit of detection for the testing method is some 500,000 times lower than the typical concentration in possum baits (the method limit of detection is 3 ng/mL for blood samples). Hence the method for testing the sample is extremely sensitive and even minute amounts of 1080 may be detected. Sample containers must not, therefore, become contaminated with 1080 in any way, even externally.

4. Sample labelling

Samples must be labelled to uniquely identify each sample, and include the date and time that the sample was taken. This information will be used to identify samples on the laboratory report. The laboratory report is confidential and will be disclosed to the submitting laboratory or the patient only, unless appropriate written permission is given. Print this sample form (84KB), and photocopy as required. It must accompany all samples submitted to the laboratory for testing. If submitting details are incomplete, the processing of the sample may be delayed until these can be supplied.

5. Transport requirements

Blood plasma samples should be transported chilled (3–10°C) to the testing laboratory within 2 days of taking the samples. This is best accomplished by including freezer packs with the sample set and packing in a polystyrene chillybin.

Samples are to be sent to:

Laboratory Manager
Toxicology Laboratory
Landcare Research
Gerald Street
Lincoln 7640
Tel 03 321 9617; Fax 03 321 9998

Samples should be sent by courier door-to-door. No special declaration is required.

On receipt, the samples will be entered in the laboratory sample register and placed in a freezer at -20°C to await analysis, or, if urgent, analysed immediately.

6. Testing procedures

Samples will be entered on the laboratory work schedule and tested as soon as possible. Testing is usually completed within 7 working days (maximum 15 working days). The 24-hour service for critical samples requires the following:

Warning of at least 1 day before sample arrival
Samples must be received at the laboratory by 10.30 a.m. on the day of testing
The service is available on a Friday only if a client representative will be available on Saturday to receive results
No more than 10 samples can be tested on a 24-hour basis

Results will be available by 9.30 a.m. on the following day.

Testing is carried out using the gas chromatography method TLM 005, 'Assay of 1080 in water, soil, and biological materials by GLC'. This method was developed by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln, based on the work of Ozawa & Tsukioka (1987, 1989).

Blood plasma samples, after precipitation with acetonitrile and separation of the protein, are added directly to 2% sodium chloride solution and are then ready for the derivatisation step.

The solution is acidified with hydrochloric acid and converted to the dichloroaniline derivative by using N,N'-dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC) and 2,4-dichloroaniline (DCA). The derivative is cleaned on a silica solid-phase extraction cartridge, eluted with toluene, and quantified by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. The limit of detection is 3 ng/mL in a 2-mL plasma sample.

An IANZ-endorsed laboratory report will be provided to the client on completion of the work. The matching of results to patient details and interpretation of the results are the responsibility of the submitting medical practitioner.

7. Prices

The prices for testing for 1080 in blood plasma samples as at 1 Matrch 2012 are as follows:

Standard rate
1–3 samples	$358 per sample
4–6 samples	$266 per sample
>6 samples	$231 per sample
24-hour service
1–3 samples	$520 per sample
4–6 samples	$390 per sample

These prices are exclusive of GST and are subject to change.

For a price for larger numbers of samples please contact
Lynn Booth
Email: boothl@landcareresearch.co.nz
Tel 03 321 9617; Fax 03 321 9998

8. References

Ozawa H, Tsukioka T 1987. Gas chromatographic determination of sodium monofluoroacetate in water by derivatization with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Analytical Chemistry 59: 2914–2917.

Ozawa H, Tsukioka T 1989. Determination of monofluoroacetate in soil and biological samples as the dichloroanilide derivative. Journal of Chromatography 473: 251–259.

Wright GRG 2002a. Protocol for environmental water sampling and testing associated with 1080 pest control operations. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln.

Wright GRG 2002b. Protocol for tissue sampling and testing for vertebrate pesticides. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln.

Wright GRG 2002c. Protocol for sampling and testing urine for 1080. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln.