Volatile Screen, Serum
Use
The Volatile Screen, Serum test is utilized for the detection and quantitation of volatile substances like acetone, methanol, isopropanol, and ethanol in serum. It is clinically significant for evaluating the degree of intoxication by these substances, especially ethanol, which correlates with intoxication levels. Methanol and isopropanol are highly toxic, and this test helps in assessing their levels to evaluate potential toxicity and metabolic acidosis. The test is essential in clinical settings for patients with suspected exogenous ingestion of these substances or endogenous conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis that can elevate acetone levels.
Special Instructions
Collection instructions include using Betadine instead of alcohol to clean the arm before collecting the specimen. Ensure that the serum gel tubes are centrifuged within 2 hours after collection, but they should not be aliquoted. For red-top tubes, it is essential to centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
Limitations
Serum should not be used in medico-legal contexts due to variations in the serum to whole blood concentration ratios. The serum/plasma concentrations are generally 1.2-fold higher than blood. Methanol and isopropanol presence in serum indicate exposure, possibly resulting in serious intoxication and necessitating immediate medical treatment. Acetone detection may indicate exposure or its presence as a metabolite of isopropanol, especially in cases like ketoacidosis. The analysis may not capture all potential interfering substances or improper specimen collections.
New York Approved
Methodology
Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 50025-6
- 32044-0
- 5693-7
- 5643-2
- 5568-1
- 5669-7
- 77202-0
Result Turnaround Time
1-2 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
Full tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
Serum gel or red-top tube; plastic vial for serum collected in red-top tubes only.
Collection Instructions
1. Do not use alcohol to clean arm. Use Betadine. 2. Avoid exposure of specimen to atmosphere. 3. Centrifuge serum gel tubes within 2 hours, do not aliquot. 4. Centrifuge red-top tubes, aliquot into plastic vial within 2 hours.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 24 hours |
| Refrigerated | 14 days |
| Frozen | 28 days |