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Definition Return to top
This is a test that measures the amount of methanol in the blood.How the test is performed Return to top
Blood is drawn from a vein on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and an elastic band is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the band to fill with blood.
A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the band is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
For an infant or young child, the area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.
The blood is then analyzed in a laboratory.
How to prepare for the test Return to top
No special preparation is necessary.How the test will feel Return to top
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.Why the test is performed Return to top
This test is performed to detect the presence of methanol in the body.Normal Values Return to top
No presence of methanol is normal.What abnormal results mean Return to top
No amount of methanol is normally found in the body. Its presence indicates possible poisoning.What the risks are Return to top
Collection of blood may be associated with:
Special considerations Return to top
Oddly enough, the treatment for methanol poisoning is intravenous infusion of grain alcohol (ethanol). Since ethanol is metabolized by the same enzyme in the liver that converts methanol to formaldehyde, the production of formaldehyde is slowed down to a rate at which the body can dispose of it in the urine or through other less common chemical reactions.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |