§ Sir R. Russellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent gas chromatography and mass spectrometry are being used in this country in the investigation of the action of drugs on human beings; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe combined use of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry in the study of drug action in man is a relatively new technique which enables scientists working in such fields as clinical pharmacology to obtain specific knowledge of the metabolic pathways of drugs in the body. At present this technique is used only at a few centres, notably those supported by the Medical Research Council, such as the Clinical Research Centre and the M.R.C. Research Group in Clinical Pharmacology.