VOLATILE SUBSTANCE SCREEN (Blood)

The Laboratory is now able to offer a service for the detection of volatile substance abuse (glue or solvent sniffing). However, the range of substances involved is very wide, and their detection with good sensitivity and specificity can be difficult particularly, more than 12-24 hrs since abuse. Some commonly abused volatile substances and their commercial sources are shown in below. A 10 mL whole blood sample - heparinised or EDTA - is required for this investigation; great care must be taken to avoid contamination with exogenous volatile substances. A urine specimen may also be useful when the abuse of substances containing xylene, trichloroethylene, or toluene is suspected. Please contact the Laboratory directly before sending such specimens.

The following substances are examples of the type of substances detected in the screen :

1,1,1-Trichloroethane

Acetone

Butane

Carbon tetrachloride

Chloroform

Dichloroethane

Dichloromethane

Ethanol

Freons

Isobutane

Isopropanol

Methanol

Methylethylketone

Propane

Toluene

Trichloroethylene

Commonly Abused Volatile Substances and Their Sources

VOLATILE SUBSTANCE	PRODUCT SOURCE
Butane, isobutane, propane	Cigarette lighter refills, fuel gas, aerosol propellants
Chlorofluorocarbons (halons)	Aerosols, refrigerants, fire extinguishers
Toluene, hexane, xylene	Adhesives, paints, thinners
1,1,1-trichloroethane, Trichloroethylene (Trilene), Tetrachloroethane	Typewriter correcting fluid, degreasing agents, dry cleaning fluid