• Antonella Valli, Virginia Valeria Ferretti, Cathrine Klersy, Davide Lonati, Ilaria Giardini, and Pietro Papa.
• From the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory Unit-Specialized Section of Toxicology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation.
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 2022 Oct 1; 38 (10): e1601e1605e1601-e1605.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the role of the laboratory of toxicology as a support for a correct diagnosis of intoxication through the application of a reliable analytical approach, critically designed to meet pediatric needs.MethodsData collected from 360 cases of suspected intoxications in pediatric patients (aged 1 day to 17 years) during the period 2018 to 2019 are presented. Toxicological analyses were performed through different techniques (immunoassay and chromatography) with parameters (limit of detection and cut-off) adjusted according to pediatric needs to produce reliable toxicological data for a wide number of prescription drugs, drugs of abuse, and poisons.ResultsWe present results about (1) agents involved in suspected poisonings and the methods adopted for a definite analytical diagnosis, (2) the assessment of the concordance of results for analyses proceeded by different techniques, and (3) the percentage of agreement between analytical result and clinical suspicion.ConclusionsAn analytical approach critically designed to minimize misinterpretation of laboratory data and able to provide reliable results for a wide number of substances in a time compatible with the urgency represents a useful support for a correct diagnosis of intoxication in pediatrics.Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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