Ethylene Glycol
Test Mnemonic
ETHYL
CPT Codes
- 82693 - QTY (1)
LOINC ®
5646-5
Aliases
- Antifreeze
Includes
- Ethylene Glycol
Performing Laboratory
ARUP
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | Serum | No additive (Red) | Refrigerated | Prepare venipuncture site with Aqueous Zephiran (benzalkonium chloride), aqueous Merthiolate (thimerosal), or povidone-iodine. Do not use gel separator tubes. Separate serum from cells within 2 hours of collection and transfer to standard aliquot tube. |
Alternate Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | Plasma | EDTA (Lavender) | Refrigerated | Prepare venipuncture site with Aqueous Zephiran (benzalkonium chloride), aqueous Merthiolate (thimerosal), or povidone-iodine. Do not use gel separator tubes. Separate plasma from cells within 2 hours of collection and transfer to standard aliquot tube. |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mL |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Ambient | After separation from cells: 1 week |
| Refrigerated | After separation from cells: 1 week |
| Frozen | After separation from cells: 1 month |
Days Performed
Sun - Sat
Turnaround Time
2 - 5 days
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Enzymatic |
Reference Range
| Ethylene Glycol | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Age From | Age To | Type | Range | Range Unit |
| Toxic: Greater than 20 mg/dL |
Special Info
Prepare venipuncture site with Aqueous Zephiran (benzalkonium chloride), aqueous Merthiolate (thimerosal), or povidone-iodine. Do not use gel separator tubes. Detection limit: 5 mg/dL. This test is New York state approved.
Clinical Info
This test is useful as an aid in assessment of the etiology of anion gap acidosis, and to determine whether ethylene glycol poisoning exists. Specimen should be collected upon presentation to hospital. Toxic concentrations may cause intoxication, CNS depression, metabolic acidosis, renal damage and hypocalcemia. Ethylene glycol is extremely toxic. Ingestion can be fatal if patients do not receive immediate medical treatment.