Screening/spot/colour test of anti-arrhythmic drugs

Abstract

Anti-arrhythmic drugs are those drugs that are used to suppress abnormal rhythms of the heart. It acts as restoration of normal rhythms of the heart and conduction of the heart. These drugs directly or indirectly alter the membrane ion conductance, which in turn alters the physical characteristics of cardiac action potentials. In India, Forensic Science Laboratories run by Government under the Home ministry usually carry out this. The samples must be analyzed by the forensic toxicologist/chemists/scientist. This article deals with the screening/spot test for anti-arrhythmic drugs. An attempts has been made for screening/spot/colour test of anti-arrhythmic drugs in a stepwise manner, which can be of handy reference for the forensic toxicologist/scientist/chemist.