title: Is osmol gap an effective screen in accurate prediction of toxic volatiles?
abstract: A review of the literature was done to determine the number of studies published on the osmol gap. We wanted to examine whether these studies were able to establish a consensus on the formula to be used, the appropriate reference interval to be used and finally the performance of the osmol gap in its ability as a screening test for toxic volatile substance. Our study was disappointing since no published literature exists to allow the clinical laboratory to use the osmol gap based on evidenced based studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, Canada. john.krahn@usask.ca
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krahn
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khajuria
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D000432:Methanol / Q000097:blood; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011786:Quality Control; D044366:Transition Temperature; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D000431:Ethanol; D019855:Ethylene Glycol; D000432:Methanol