It is recommended to separate serum or plasma from cells within 2 hours of collection. Centrifuge for 10 minutes at 1100 - 1300 g in a swing bucket unit or 15 minutes in a fixed angle. Transfer serum or plasma to a tightly-capped tube to minimize alcohol loss. Send on ice. Do not freeze whole blood.
Never use alcohol or other volatile disinfectants when collecting or storing blood specimens. Use aqueous zephiran (benzalkonium chloride), iodine or other suitable aqueous disinfectants.
Storage/Transport Temperature
Refrigerated serum/plasma
Stability (from collection to initiation)
Spun samples:
Room Temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 3 days
Ordering Recommendations
A volatile compound is a liquid with a boiling point less than the boiling point of water. The volatile screen panel detects methanol, ethanol, acetone or isopropanol in the patient's serum. This test is ordered when there is a suspicion of exposure to one of these volatile compounds or when the patient has an unexplained anion gap.
Performed
Monday - Sunday; Days, Evenings, Nights
Methodology
GC
Reported
4 - 8 hours
Performing Lab
Chemistry
Synonyms
6846
Volatile Screen SerPl QN
Volatiles, SerPl Quant
Acetone, SerPl QL
Reference Chart
CPT Codes
84600
LOINC Codes
NAME
LOINC
Result
Ethanol Pl QN
5643-2
Isopropanol SerPl QN
5669-7
Methanol SerPl QN
5693-7
Test Code (Outreach Synonym)
6846
Catalog Code
686609
Collection
Collect
Blood, Green Na Heparin
Preferred Draw Volume
3 mL
Minimum Draw Volume
0.4 mL
Other Acceptable Containers
Lt Green, Grey or Red
Pediatric Collection
1 microtainer
Collection Comments
It is recommended to separate serum or plasma from cells within 2 hours of collection. Centrifuge for 10 minutes at 1100 - 1300 g in a swing bucket unit or 15 minutes in a fixed angle. Transfer serum or plasma to a tightly-capped tube to minimize alcohol loss. Send on ice. Do not freeze whole blood.
Never use alcohol or other volatile disinfectants when collecting or storing blood specimens. Use aqueous zephiran (benzalkonium chloride), iodine or other suitable aqueous disinfectants.
Storage/Transport Temperature
Refrigerated serum/plasma
Stability (from collection to initiation)
Spun samples:
Room Temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 3 days
Ordering
Ordering Recommendations
A volatile compound is a liquid with a boiling point less than the boiling point of water. The volatile screen panel detects methanol, ethanol, acetone or isopropanol in the patient's serum. This test is ordered when there is a suspicion of exposure to one of these volatile compounds or when the patient has an unexplained anion gap.
