Ethanol

Label Mnemonic:	ETOH
Epic code:	LAB4919
Downtime form:	Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery

Chemistry
6240 RCP
356-3527

Specimen(s):

Plasma

Collection Medium:

Plasma Separator Tube 4.5 mL

Alternate Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection containers.

Minimum:

3 mL whole blood from light green top tube or TWO Microtainer^® devices

Rejection Criteria:

Medico-legal specimens are not accepted.

Delivery Instructions:

Deliver to laboratory within 1 hour of collection.

Turn Around Time:

1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

None detected. Ethanol intoxication begins in the 50-100 mg/dL range. Critical value: >300 mg/dL

Comments:

Includes plasma ethanol by enzymatic analysis. For screening for substances other than ethanol, see "Ethanol/Volatile Screen (EVS)".
Availability: as needed.

Test Limitations:

Icterus: No significant interference from bilirubin up to an I index of 60.

Lipemia: No significant interference from lipemia up to an L index of 500.

Hemolysis: >200 mg/dL will be canceled.

Very high concentrations of lactate (> 30 mEq/L) and lactate dehydrogenase (< 8,000 U/L) have potential to produce falsely elevated ethanol results.

References:
Nine JS, Moraca M, Virji MA, Rao KN. Serum-ethanol determination: comparison of lactate and lactate dehydrogenase interference in three enzymatic assays. J Anal Toxicol 19: 192-196, 1995.

Methodology:

Enzymatic (ethanol)

CPT Code:

80320

See Additional Information:
Osmolality Gap Calculator
Osmolality Gap - Calculation and Interpretation
Chemistry Critical Lab Values