PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Pilots protest over 'noxious' air
View Single Post
Old 7th November 2007 | 06:53
  #114 (permalink)  
cwatters
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 0
From: England
Is there somewhere pilots go to get a specialist blood test? I wonder if a regular test that a doctor would do would look for the right stuff? What would/should a blood test look for? I'm no expert but Google suggests regular monitoring of "plasma cholinesterase activity" is the thing or perhaps to look for "Phosphorylated acetylcholinesterase" . See Organophosphates on this page..


http://books.google.com/books?id=bhP...YIpsOqzgSkvhrs

"For monitoring of occupational exposure regular measurement of plasma cholinesterase activity should be carried out; a reduction of the pre-employment level by 30% indicates excessive exposure and the worker should be removed from exposure pending recovery of levels.

Phosphorylated acetylcholinesterase is relatively stable which means that the features of poisoning may persist longer than the presence of the orgaonophosphate in the blood stream."

Interestingly the article also suggests a treatment to be started within 4 hours of exposure. All assumes organophosphates are the problem.
cwatters is offline  
Reply