Five-year review of a UK 24 hour testing service for plasma ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol.
BACKGROUND
We present a 5-year review of our UK service for plasma ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol determination in cases of acute poisoning.


METHODS
Ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol have been measured on all samples received for screening for toxicity by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection over a five-year period. A detailed audit of the results has been undertaken.


RESULTS
In this period, we received 811 requests, 56% were for first-time screening and 44% repeat analysis where a positive sample has already been received. Of the first-time screen samples, 33.5% screened positive for glycol poisoning. The mean positive ethylene glycol concentration was 1204 mg/L (range 31 to 8666 mg/L). Diethylene glycol was present in 14% of ethylene glycol positive samples but never found alone.


CONCLUSIONS
The data presented here suggest it is not essential to measure diethylene glycol since its inclusion is rarely likely to change patient management.
Department Clinical Biochemistry, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK Loretta.Ford@nhs.net.
Loretta T
LT
Ford
Department Clinical Biochemistry, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
Jonathan D
JD
Berg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000592:standards; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
D005026:Ethylene Glycols; C013484:diethylene glycol
DEG; EG; Ethylene glycol; diethylene glycol; glycol toxicity; toxic glycol analysis