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Test Code VLTBX Volatile Screen, Chain of Custody, Blood

Useful For

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.

 

Providing chain-of-custody for when the results of testing could be used in a court of law. Its purpose is to protect the rights of the individual contributing the specimen by demonstrating that it was always under the control of personnel involved with testing the specimen; this control implies that the opportunity for specimen tampering would be limited.

Additional Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
COCH Chain of Custody Processing No Yes

Testing Algorithm

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

Reporting Name

Volatile Screen, CoC, B

Specimen Type

Whole blood


Specimen Required


Supplies: Chain-of-Custody Kit (T282)

Container/Tube: Chain-of-Custody Kit containing the specimen container seals and documentation required.

Preferred: Gray top (potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride)

Acceptable: Lavender top (EDTA) or green top (sodium heparin)

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Do not use alcohol to clean arm. Use alternative such as Betadine to cleanse arm before collecting any specimen for volatile testing.

2. Specimen must be sent in original tube. Collect specimen, seal, and submit with the associated documentation to satisfy the legal requirements for chain of custody testing.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL or amount to fill 1 tube

Specimen Stability Information

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

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus OK

Reference Values

Methanol:

Not detected (Positive results are quantitated.)

Toxic concentration: ≥10 mg/dL

 

Ethanol:

Not detected (Positive results are quantitated.)

Toxic concentration: ≥400 mg/dL

 

Isopropanol:

Not detected (Positive results are quantitated.)

Toxic concentration: ≥10 mg/dL

 

Acetone:

Not detected (Positive results are quantitated.)

Toxic concentration: ≥10 mg/dL

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Saturday

Report Available

1 to 2 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

CPT Code Information

80320

G0480 (if appropriate)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
VLTBX Volatile Screen, CoC, B 41266-8

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
36241 Volatile Scrn, B 41266-8
36242 Methanol, B 9334-4
36243 Ethanol, B 5640-8
36244 Acetone, B 9425-0
36245 Isopropanol, B 5667-1
36246 Chain of Custody 77202-0

Forms

Chain of Custody Request is included in the Chain-of-Custody Kit (T282)

Specimen Retention Time

2 weeks