Measurement of plasma cholinesterase is used to monitor excessive exposure to the anticholinesterase organophosphate insecticides, predict susceptibility to prolonged apnoea after administration of the muscle relaxant succinylcholine, investigate the inheritance of variants of the enzyme and assess liver function.
The symptoms of organophosphate poisoning are nausea, giddiness, blurred vision, vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive salivation, impaired night vision, and sometimes loss of consciousness.
Lipids/Trace Metals
CHE
Send to the lab as Whole blood EDTA
Reject if gross haemolysis, gross lipemia, gross icterus
Stable refrigerated for 14 days.
Pseudocholinesterase
2 weeks
3451