A study of semi quantitative Whole Blood Cholinesterase activity (ChE) is presented for 214 cases admitted at a Rural Toxicological Center in India for accidental/suicidal organo-phosphorous (OP) poisoning. 45 cases from these had lower than 25%, 89 had 25 to 50% and 80 had 50 to 75% ChE. 18 patients with less than 25% ChE showed severe clinical manifestations while 14 patients required artificial respiratory support. The method using Tintometer Comparator is helpful in differential diagnoses of OP and non-OP poisoning and also in assessing severity of disease. It does not require any electricity so the analysis can also be carried out in the field.
Toxicity, Organophosphorous poisoning, Cholinesterase, Tintometer
