Organophosphorous pesticides are
anticholinergic and health surveillance is recommended for workers
using these pesticides on a regular basis. HSE's guidance (MS17) gives more information on
this, including measuring plasma and red blood cell cholinesterase
activity.
Cholinesterase activity varies
widely between individuals. It is therefore recommended that
workers under health surveillance have a baseline measurement
(undertaken before working with organophosphorous pesticides or six
weeks after the end of exposure) as well as being sampled during
exposure tasks.
Minimal variability of the test is
important in order to be able detect small effects before any
symptoms of exposure are apparent. We have conducted a lot of
research in this area and the analytical variation of our methods
is excellent (<4%) allowing us to detect a drop in activity of
<15%. This allows intervention in working practice before
activity drops to 30% (the point at which HSE recommend medical
examination).
Our method is
UKAS accredited and we also participate in the UKNEQAS quality
assurance scheme for plasma cholinesterase. We report both
plasma butyrylcholinesterase (also called pseudocholinesterase, a
sensitive marker of exposure) and erythrocyte (or red cell)
acetylcholinesterase (more directly associated with health
effects).
Product Code: PE11630
Price: £52.00 (VAT free)