Test Catalog

Test Id : VLTB

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Volatile Screen, Blood

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Detection and quantitation of acetone, methanol, isopropanol, and ethanol in whole blood

 

Quantification of the concentration of ethanol in blood that correlates with the degree of intoxication

 

Evaluation of toxicity to the measured volatile substances

 

This test is not intended for use in employment-related testing.

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

This test includes analysis of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and acetone.

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Headspace Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (HSGC-FID)

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Volatile Scrn, B

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Acetone

Alcohol

Ethanol

Ethyl Alcohol

ETOH (Ethanol)

Isopropanol

Methanol

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

This test includes analysis of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and acetone.

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Whole blood

Ordering Guidance

This test is not performed using chain of custody. For chain of custody testing order VLTBX / Volatile Screen, Chain of Custody, Blood.

Additional Testing Requirements

Ethylene glycol requires a separate request. See ETGL / Ethylene Glycol, Serum.

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Grey top (potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride)

Acceptable: Any anticoagulant

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Do not use alcohol to clean arm. Use alternatives such as Betadine to cleanse arm before collecting any specimen for volatile testing.

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the Testing Laboratory

0.5 mL or amount to fill 1 tube

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus OK
 

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Whole blood Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
Frozen 28 days
Ambient 24 hours

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Detection and quantitation of acetone, methanol, isopropanol, and ethanol in whole blood

 

Quantification of the concentration of ethanol in blood that correlates with the degree of intoxication

 

Evaluation of toxicity to the measured volatile substances

 

This test is not intended for use in employment-related testing.

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

This test includes analysis of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and acetone.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Volatile substances in the blood include ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, and acetone. Acetone is generally elevated in metabolic conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis. Methanol and isopropanol are highly toxic and result from exogenous ingestion.

 

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.

 

In most jurisdictions in the United States, the per se blood level for being under the influence of alcohol (ethanol) for purposes of driving a motor vehicle is 80 mg/dL.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

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

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

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.

 

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

This test does not detect ethylene glycol.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Langman LJ, Bechtel LK, Meier BM, Holstege C: Chapter 41: Clinical Toxicology. In: Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. Edited by N Rifai, AR Horvath, CT Wittwer. Sixth edition. Elsevier; 2018. pp. 832-87

2. Mihic SJ, Koob GF, Mayfield J, Harris RA: Ethanol. In: Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13th edition. Edited by LL Brunton, R Hilal-Dandan, BC Knollmann. McGraw-Hill Education; 2017

3. Olson KR, Anderson IB, Benowitz NL, et al: Specific Poisons and Drugs: Diagnosis and Treatment. In Poisoning and Drug Overdose, Seventh edition. McGraw-Hill Education; 2017

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Specimens are analyzed and quantified by headspace gas chromatography- flame ionization detection.(Baselt RC. Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man, 10th edition, Biomedical Publications; 2014. pp 2211)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Saturday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

2 to 3 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their Regional Manager. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test was developed, and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

80320

G0480 (if appropriate)

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
VLTB Volatile Scrn, B 41266-8
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
89190 Volatile Scrn, B 41266-8
30921 Methanol, B 9334-4
30922 Ethanol, B 5640-8
30923 Acetone, B 9425-0
30924 Isopropanol, B 5667-1
34377 Chain of Custody 77202-0

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports