Check if Mdb file is already been used

To whom it may concern, i want to be able to check if an .mdb file (ms access) is already open. at the moment i try to open the file? exclusively . if i am able to open the file then i know it is not being used . otherwise i know it is being used. this process take a long time , especially if the database is big. i want to have a new way of checking if the mdb file is open or not without acually opening the file. the project need to be created in mfc (microsoft visual studio 6) regards, Yotam