FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-72/12

Title and Subtitle: A comparison of serum cholinesterase methods: II

Report Date: March 1972

Authors: Crane CR, Sanders DC, Abbott JK

Abstract: Among aerial applicator personnek, the primary value of the periodic blood cholinesterase (ChE) assays is the detection of pesticide poisoning indicated by a decrease in the enzyme activity since the previous (or pre-season) assay. Comparison of these values is difficult if they are based on different methodologies and expressed in different units, which is frequesntly the case.

This report provides an evaluation of the four serum or plasma ChE methods which are currently in use and establilshes the relationships for interconversion among their respective units. This was accomplished by performing simultaneous assays by each method on a series of samples whose activities covered the range from normal levels down to the very low level found in organophosphate-poisoned individuals. The resulting conversion data (regression evaluations) are also compatible with those described in Report no. AM-70-13, thereby providing direct interconversion capability among the units of seven commonly-used serum ChE methods

Key Words: Aerial Applicators, Organophosphate Pesticides, Methodology, Conversion Factors

No. of Pages: 6