Ethylene Glycol
What is Ethylene Glycol?
Ethylene glycol is a key component in most antifreeze products. The ingestion of ethylene glycol can quickly poison an animal and lead to irreversible liver and kidney damage if not quickly diagnosed and treated. If ethylene glycol is shown to be present in an animal’s blood, treatment is relatively simple
Two Ethylene Glycol Test Kit Formats to Suit Labs of All Sizes:
Quantitative Test (C504-0A):
Catachem has developed an accurate quantitative test (C504-0A) that determines ethylene glycol levels. Values obtained on Catachem’s quantitative test reagent compare closely to values obtained on GC/MS methods (Am.J.Clin.Pathol. 2011, 136:165-6).
Catachem’s product has been designed to effectively eliminate interferences from propylene glycol, a secondary component in some antifreeze products that is also used as an additive in some veterinary drugs and foodstuffs. Neither diethylene glycol nor the antidote 4-methylpyrazole (fomepizole), the latter tested to a level of 3,000 mg/dL (30 g/L), showed any interference in the assay. The C504-0A kit includes material to carry out approximately 80 tests.
Qualitative Test (C504-0B):
Catachem’s qualitative in-office test requires no instrumentation and uses the same enzymatic technology as its quantitative partner. Although it is subject to somewhat more interference, the test offers the veterinarian a useful tool in an emergency, time-sensitive situation.
The test kit comes with all components needed to evaluate whether an animal has ingested ethylene glycol. Each test uses a parallel control to ensure that reading errors are eliminated. No interference was found from 4-methylpyrazole pyrazole (fomepizole), the common antidote, which was tested to a level of 3,000 mg/dL (30 g/L). The C504-0B kit includes material to carry out three individual tests.
What Format Should You Choose?
The best type of ethylene glycol test kit for your lab or practice depends on a number of factors:
Do you have an automated analyzer?
The C504-0A (Quantitative) kit is best run using an automated analyzer. The C504-0B (Qualitative) kit does not require any equipment.
What type of result do you need?
The C504-0A kit will provide you with a quantitative (number-based) measurement of ethylene glycol in a patient’s serum. The C504-0B kit provides the user with a visual “yes” or “no” answer. Mass Spectrometry is not needed.
The C504-0B test kit may experience some interference from propylene glycol.
How many tests do you expect to run?
The C504-0A kit will run approximately 80 tests per kit while the C504-0B kit will run three tests per kit. We typically recommend C504-0A for labs running a large number of samples.
For more information as to which ethylene glycol test kit would best suit your needs, take a look at our quantitative vs qualitative comparison flyer or contact us!
How Can We Help You?
If you are looking to place an order, request technical help or ask questions about us, get in touch today!