Isopropanol, Serum

Specimen requirement

 Adult patient:

  Clotted blood tube (Clot activator tube)

Minimum blood volume: 6 mL

Paediatric patient:

Paediatric clotted blood tube

Number of vials: 2

Minimum blood volume: 1.6 mL

Authorisation code required Yes

(Contact Duty-Biochemist for special arrangement.)

24 Hr available service No
Method Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionisation Detection (GC-FID)
Reference interval

Normally not detected.

Clinical indication

Detection of ingestion of  isopropanol
Result interpretation

Isopropanol concentrations > 25 mmol/L may produce coma and hypotension; levels > 33 mmol/L are incompatible with life. (Kraut JA and Kurtz I. Toxic alcohol ingestions: clinical features, diagnosis, and management. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 3: 208 - 225, 2008)

Measurement of uncertainty N. A.
Frequency of measurement Performed for patients suspected to have isopropanol intoxication.