title: Simultaneous detection and quantitation of diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and the toxic alcohols in serum using capillary column gas chromatography.
abstract: Determination of toxic glycols and alcohols in an emergency setting requires a rapid yet accurate and reliable method. To simultaneously determine diethylene glycol (DEG) along with ethylene glycol, methanol, isopropanol, acetone, and ethanol, we modified a previously developed gas chromatographic (GC) method. The system used a Hewlett-Packard 6890 GC with EPC, a Gooseneck splitless liner, and an Rtx-200 capillary column (30 m x 0.53-mm i.d., 3 mm). After serum samples were deproteinized using ultrafiltration (Millipore Ultrafree-MC), 1 mL of the protein-free filtrate was manually injected into the GC. Internal standards for alcohols (and acetone) and glycols were n-propanol and 1,3-butanediol, respectively. All compounds eluted within 3.5 min (linear temperature gradient from 40 to 260 degrees C); total run time was 6.5 min. Limit of detection and linear range for all compounds were 1 or 2.5 mg/dL and 0-500 mg/dL, respectively. In addition, there was no interference from propionic acid, propylene glycol, and 2,3-butanediol. The modifications in the equipment and temperature program allowed increased resolution and thus, detection and reliable quantitation of DEG and other common toxic glycols and alcohols of clinical interest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maggiore
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol / Q000097:blood*; D000096:Acetone / Q000097:blood; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000097:blood*; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D000432:Methanol / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D000096:Acetone; D000431:Ethanol; C013484:diethylene glycol; D019855:Ethylene Glycol; D019840:2-Propanol; D000432:Methanol