Laboratory Test Reference Guide

Laboratory Information

Test Name

Acetone

Specimen Collection

Adult Specimen

Heparin (light green), SST(gold)

Paediatric Specimen

1 ml Heparin (light green) or serum (red)

Instructions for Referral to Waikato Lab

Aliquot instructions

Minimal head space.

Aliquot Transport

Frozen

Test Information

Department

Biochemistry

Test Availability

Mon - Sun, 24hrs

Laboratory Turnaround Time

3 h during normal working hours.

Method

Gas Chromatography

Unit of measurement

mmol/L

Reference interval

Toxic levels for acetone are not well defined. Levels up to 15 mmol/L has been reported in patients with ketoacidosis.

Ingested isopropanol is metabolised to acetone therefore isopropanol toxicity does not cause a metabolic acidosis; the isopropanol level is usually higher than the acetone level.  In patients with  ketoacidosis, acetone is metabolised to isopropanol and acetone levels are usually higher than isopropanol level.

 

Uncertainty of measurement

15%

Diagnostic Use Or Instructions

Do not swab the venepuncture site with alcohol. This test screens for the following Alcohols: Acetone, Methanol, Ethanol, Isopropanol.

Minimum Volume

0.5 ml plasma or serum - minimal head space.

Electronic Information

Registration Code

ALOHS

HL7 mapping code

$ALOHS