Alcohols, Plasma




Test Mnemonic

ALCOS

CPT Codes

  • 80320 - QTY (1)
  • G0480 - QTY (1)

Aliases

  • Acetone
  • Isopropanol
  • Methanol
  • Volatiles Screen
  • Volatiles, Plasma

Includes

  • Ethanol
  • Methanol
  • Isopropanol
  • Acetone

Performing Laboratory

n/a


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
2 mLPlasmaPotassium oxalate/sodium fluoride (Gray) Centrifuge, aliquot and refrigerate.Separate plasma from cells as soon as possible. Transfer to standard CCL transport tube. Cap tube tightly to minimize alcohol loss. Do not draw plasma separator tubes.

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
2 mLPlasmaEDTA (Lavender) Centrifuge, aliquot and refrigerate.Separate plasma from cells as soon as possible. Transfer to standard CCL transport tube. Cap tube tightly to minimize alcohol loss. Do not draw plasma separator tubes.
2 mLPlasmaLithium heparin (Green) Centrifuge, aliquot and refrigerate.Separate plasma from cells as soon as possible. Transfer to standard CCL transport tube. Cap tube tightly to minimize alcohol loss. Do not draw in plasma separator tubes.
2 mLSerumNo additive (Red) Centrifuge, aliquot and refrigerate.Separate serum from cells as soon as possible. Transfer to standard CCL transport tube. Cap tube tightly to minimize alcohol loss. Do not draw in serum separator tubes.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.5 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
AmbientAfter separation from cells in a tightly capped tube: 3 days
RefrigeratedAfter separation from cells in a tightly capped tube: 14 days
FrozenAfter separation from cells in a tightly capped tube: 14 days

Days Performed

Sun - Sat

Turnaround Time

1 day

Methodology

Name Description
Quantitative Gas Chromatography 

Reference Range

Acetone, Quant
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
   Years99 YearsNormal<5mg/dL
Alcohol, Blood Confirmation
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
   Years99 YearsNormal<5mg/dL
Isopropanol
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
   Years99 YearsNormal<5mg/dL
Methanol
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
   Years99 YearsNormal<5mg/dL

Special Info

For medical purposes only; not valid for forensic use. Do not use alcohol or other volatile disinfectants at the site of venipuncture. Aqueous Zephiran (benzalkonium chloride), aqueous Merthiolate (thimerosal), or povidone-iodine may be used.

Clinical Info

Use to identify ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, and/or acetone ingestion. Reference ranges are based off of the assay's limit of quantitation (5 mg/dL). Ethanol: Therapy for methanol intoxication: 100-150 mg/dL. [American Academy of Clinical Toxicology Practice Guidelines on the Treatment of Methanol Poisoning. Clinical Toxicology, 2002, 40(4): 415-446.] Monitor exposure to ethanol. Elevated concentrations may cause disorientation, loss of motor functions, CNS depression, vomiting, urine and feces incontinence, coma, and fatality. Toxic concentrations are dependent upon the usage history of the patient. Isopropanol and Acetone: Monitor exposure to isopropanol. Elevated concentrations may cause nausea, dizziness, central nervous system depression and coma. Acetone is a metabolite of isopropanol. Acetone may also be detected during ketoacidosis. Methanol: Monitor exposure to methanol. Elevated concentrations may cause intoxication, metabolic acidosis, ocular toxicity, CNS depression and fatality if patients do not receive medical treatment.