TOXBASE (Figure 1) is the primary clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS ).

Figure 1: TOXBASE home page

 

All NPIS Units contribute to and authenticate the content of TOXBASE (Figure 2) and it represents the most authoritative source of information available. It should be used by all medical practitioners and other health care professionals working in the NHS as the primary source of poisons information.

Figure 2: TOXBASE production structures

 

The TOXBASE database provides information about routine diagnosis, treatment and management of patients suffering from exposure to a wide range of pharmaceuticals (Figure 3), chemicals (agricultural, household [Figure 4] and industrial), plants and animals.  The database includes information on about 14,000 products together with information on poisoning in pregnacy, chemical incidents, antidotes and educational activities.  Information boxes are available for NHS Direct and NHS 24 nurse advisors to enable them to decide on the correct disposition for their callers (Figures 3,4).

Figure 3: TOXBASE  entry - antidepressant

 

Figure 4: TOXBASE entry - silica gel

TOXBASE is available free to UK National Health Service registered users who will normally be departments or surgeries, rather than individuals.  Hospitals and NHS Direct and NHS 24 centres are the major users of the database (Figure 5).   There are around 5000 active users, mainly in the UK and Northern Ireland.  TOXBASE is not intended for personal use of UK NHS staff, although group training passwords are available for medical schools and for some other appropriate courses.  Suitable commercial users are charged an annual subscription, and overseas and other non-NHS users may be allowed access by negotiation, subject to UK Health Protection Agency approval. TOXBASE is not available for public access.   Usage has grown considerably since the database was placed on the Internet in 1999 (Figure 6).  77.4% of the 443,121 logons to TOXBASE in 2006/7 came from England, 9.3% from Scotland, 5.3% from Wales, 2.9% from Northern Ireland, 2.8% from the Republic of Ireland and 2.3% from other countries.

Figure 5: Sources of TOXBASE accesses 2006/7

 

Figure 6: TOXBASE enquiries 2000 to 2006/2007

 

To register for TOXBASE please submit an on-line registration form at http://www.toxbase.org

TOXBASE is hosted by:
NPIS, Edinburgh centre,
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, EH16 4SA