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Test Code LAB46 Ethanol

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital Laboratory - Chemistry

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation: DO NOT use alcohol wipes or volatile disinfectants to clean specimen collection site.

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Mint green-top lithium heparin (MNTGRN LiHep) tube

Acceptable: Plain red-top tube, Gold SST gel tube or Lavender-top (EDTA) tube

Submission Container/Tube: If specimen is coming from outside facility and collected in plain red-top tube aliquot processed sample into a plastic vial for transport (labeling with specimen type).

Specimen Collection Volume: 3.0 mL (minimum 1.0 mL)

Special Instructions: Do not use alcohol wipes to clean collection site. Aqueous Zephiran (benzalkonium chloride), aqueous Merthiolate (thimerosal), or providone-iodine may be used. Send to lab promptly

 

Sample Rejection

Mislabled or unlabeled specimens

Logistics

Test Availability: Monday-Sunday

Cut-off time: None, performed as received

Turnaround Time: Same Day; 1 hours from receipt in performing lab

Reference Values

Reference Interval: <10 mg/dL

Legal limit of intoxication: ≥ 80 mg/dL                                        
Levels ≥ 400 mg/dL are potentially toxic                                        

Literature Reference:

Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, eds. Tietz textbook of clinical chemistry. 3rd ed. WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA, 1999:922-3

Critical Value: ≥ 300 mg/dL

Every critical test result will be called back automatically.

 

Methodolog

Alcohol Dehydrogenase Ultraviolet (UV)

Limitations

  • NA

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge to separate. If specimen is collected in a plain red-top tube aliquot sample into a Roche false-bottom tube for testing (labeling aliquot with specimen type).

Processed Volume: minimum 0.5 mL plasma/serum

Analyte Stability:

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood (unprocessed)  Ambient NA
Plasma/Serum (processed) Refrigerated (preferred)    2 weeks   
  Ambient  48 hours
  Frozen  4 weeks

 

Test Classification and CPT Code

82077

LOINC

5643-2

Last Reviewed

06/2025