Alcohol
| Order Code: | ALCH |
| Epic Lab Code: | LAB551 |
| Order Form: | A-1a Miscellaneous Request or Epic Req |
Chemistry
6240 RCP
356-3527
6240 RCP
356-3527
Specimen:
Plasma
Collection Medium:
 |
| Plasma Separator Tube |
Alternate
Collection Media:
Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection containers.
Minimum:
3 mL whole blood in light green top tube or TWO microtainers
Rejection Criteria:
Medico-legal specimens are not accepted.
Testing Schedule:
0700-1530 Monday through Friday. For additional services,
contact Clinical Pathology Resident on-call at pager #3404.
Turn Around
Time:
4 hours (upon receipt in laboratory)
Reference Range:
Ethanol intoxication begins in the 50-100 mg/dL range.
Clinical toxicity for methanol and isopropanol can occur at concentrations of 10 mg/dL or greater.
Critical Values:
Methanol 10 mg/dL or greater
Isopropanol 10 mg/dL or greater
Ethanol 300 mg/dL or greater
(NOTE: for patients admitted to the hospital who get multiple alcohol determination by gas chromatography, only the first plasma concentration exceeding the values above are treated as critical values, i.e., follow-up levels are not called as critical values to the ordering clinician).
Clinical toxicity for methanol and isopropanol can occur at concentrations of 10 mg/dL or greater.
Critical Values:
Methanol 10 mg/dL or greater
Isopropanol 10 mg/dL or greater
Ethanol 300 mg/dL or greater
(NOTE: for patients admitted to the hospital who get multiple alcohol determination by gas chromatography, only the first plasma concentration exceeding the values above are treated as critical values, i.e., follow-up levels are not called as critical values to the ordering clinician).
Comments:
May be ordered after ethanol/volatiles screen (EVS) with an unexplained
osmolar gap >15. This procedure individually quantitates methanol,
ethanol, isopropanol and acetone.
Availability: As needed. Profile result codes: methanol, ethanol, acetone, isopropanol.
This test requires approval of Clinical Pathology Resident on-call (pager #3404). May be ordered after ethanol/volatiles screen (EVS) with an unexplained osmolar gap >15. This procedure individually quantitates methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and acetone. Availability: As needed. Profile result codes: methanol, ethanol, acetone, isopropanol.
Availability: As needed. Profile result codes: methanol, ethanol, acetone, isopropanol.
This test requires approval of Clinical Pathology Resident on-call (pager #3404). May be ordered after ethanol/volatiles screen (EVS) with an unexplained osmolar gap >15. This procedure individually quantitates methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and acetone. Availability: As needed. Profile result codes: methanol, ethanol, acetone, isopropanol.
Test
Limitations:
Sample Integrity Confirmation
References:
(1) Young DS. Effects of Drugs on Clinical Laboratory Tests. 3rd ed.
Washington, DC: AACC Press; 1990.
(2) Young DS. Effects of Preanalytical Variables on Clinical Laboratory
Tests. Washington, DC: AACC Press; 1993: 3-120, 3-121.
Methodology:
Gas Chromatography
CPT Code:
84600
See also:
Ethanol/Volatiles Screen (EVS), Plasma
Ethylene Glycol, Plasma
Glycols (Ethylene and Propylene), Plasma
Ethanol/Volatiles Screen (EVS), Plasma
Ethylene Glycol, Plasma
Glycols (Ethylene and Propylene), Plasma