26186 Volatile Screen, Serum (VLTS)

​​Acetone, Alcohol, Ethanol, Ethyl Alcohol, ETOH (Ethanol), Isopropanol, Methanol

​This test includes analysis for methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and acetone. 

​Detection and quantitation of acetone, methanol, isopropanol, and ethanol in serum

Quantification of the concentration of ethanol in serum correlates with degree of intoxication

Evaluation of toxicity to the measured volatile substances

*This test is only valid to be ordered from MCHS hospital location/branches.​

DO NOT use alcohol to clean arm. 

Use alternative such as Betadine to cleanse arm before collecting any specimen for volatile testing.
Avoid exposure of specimen to atmosphere.

If collecting in a Serum Separator Tube:​

Centrifuge serum gel tubes with 2 hours of collection but DO NOT aliquot.

If collecting in a Red Top Tube: 

Centrifuge red-top tubes (RTT) and aliquot serum into plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.   

​No significant cautionary statements.

Volatile substances in the blood include ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, and acetone. Methanol and isopropanol are highly toxic; toxicity results from ingestion (exogenous). Acetone is generally elevated in metabolic conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis (endogenous). It also is a metabolite of isopropanol.

Ethanol is the single most important substance of abuse in the United States. It is the active agent in beer, wine, vodka, whiskey, rum, and other liquors. Ethanol acts on cerebral function as a depressant similar to general anesthetics. This depression causes most of the typical symptoms such as impaired thought, clouded judgment, and changed behavior. As the level of alcohol increases, the degree of impairment progressively increases.

On average, the serum or plasma concentration of the alcohols is 1.2-fold higher than blood concentration. For example, the serum or plasma would contain approximately 0.10 g/dL of ethanol in a blood specimen that contains 0.08 g/dL ethanol. Due to potential variations in the serum to whole blood ratio, serum should not be used in a medico-legal context. However, in the context of medical/clinical assessment, serum or plasma may be submitted for analysis.

Methanol:  Not detected (Positive results are quantitated.)

                 Toxic concentration: > or =10 mg/dL

Ethanol:  Not detected (Positive results are quantitated.)

               Toxic concentration: > or =400 mg/dL

Isopropanol:  Not detected (Positive results are quantitated.)

                     Toxic concentration: > or =10 mg/dL

Acetone:  Not detected (Positive results are quantitated.)

                Toxic concentration: > or =10 mg/dL​

​Methanol:

The presence of methanol indicates exposure which may result in intoxication, central nervous system (CNS) depression, and metabolic acidosis. Ingestion of methanol can be fatal if patients do not receive immediate medical treatment.

Ethanol:

The presence of ethanol indicates exposure which may result in intoxication, CNS depression, and metabolic acidosis.

Isopropanol:

The presence of isopropanol indicates exposure which may result in intoxication and CNS depression. Ingestion of isopropanol can be fatal if patients do not receive immediate medical treatment.

Acetone:

The presence of acetone may indicate exposure to acetone; it is also a metabolite of isopropanol and may be detected during ketoacidosis.