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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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TOXIC ALCOHOL PANEL

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB3264    Geisinger Epic ID:  7067

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Serum


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
3.5 mL gold-top (serum separator) tube
Specimen required: 

Minimum 1 mL serum.


Special notes: 

Use non-alcoholic wipe to clean draw site.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Allow serum to clot. Centrifuge to separate serum within 2 hours of collection. Remove serum from cells.


Transport temperature: 

Frozen (preferred) or refrigerated.


Specimen stability: 

Refrigerated or frozen: 1 week if tightly capped.


Rejection criteria: 

Stability limits exceeded. Add-on testing will be accepted for unopened specimens or within 1 hour of initial testing on previously opened specimens.



TEST DETAILS
Interpretation guide: 

Negative. 
Cutoff concentration: 
Acetone: 10 mg/dL 
Ethanol: 10 mg/dL
Isopropanol: 10 mg/dL 
Methanol: 10 mg/dL 
 


CPT code(s):  84600
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Acetone, ethanol, isopropanol, and methanol.


Methodology: 
Gas Chromatography (GC)
Synonyms: 

Alcohol, VOLA, Volatile, Volatiles, Acetone


Clinical significance: 

To identify acetone, ethanol, isopropanol, or methanol ingestion.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC, FADLM
Sheng-Ying (Margaret) Lo, PhD, DABCC
Review Date:  12/17/2024

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