Xylenes, Blood
Xylenes, Blood
    
Number
723106
CPT
84600
Related Information
  • Aromatic Solvents Exposure, Blood
  • Xylenes Exposure Profile
  • Xylenes Metabolite Profile, Urine
  • Test Includes
    Xylenes (o-, m-, p-xylene), blood
    Specimen
    Whole blood
    Volume
    7 mL
    Minimum Volume
    1.1 mL
    ContainerContainer - Updated August 29 2007
    Lavender-top (EDTA) tube. Submit original full, unopened tube.
    Collection
    Venipuncture site must be disinfected with povidone-iodine or a similar product.
    Storage Instructions
    Refrigerate
    Causes for Rejection
    Opened tube or pour-off; clotted specimen
    Reference Interval
    • Environmental exposure: none detected
    • Occupational exposure: Levels of 1.0 mg/L were found to be consistent with exposure to 100 ppm. The current recommended allowable threshold limit value (TLV®) for air concentration is 100 ppm.
    Use
    Monitor exposure to xylenes
    Methodology
    Gas chromatography (GC)
    Additional Information
    Xylene exposure to concentrations of 200 ppm and up can cause nausea, mucous membrane irritation, dizziness, incoordination, and impairment of equilibrium. Elevated concentrations (approximately 10,000 ppm) may produce significant CNS depressant effects such as unconsciousness.1 Xylene is often found in the industrial environment as a component of the petroleum hydrocarbon solvents used in paints, lacquers, cleaning agents, pesticides, and gasoline. Blood is the preferred specimen for monitoring an acute or recent exposure.
    Footnotes
    1. Baselt RC and Cravey RH, Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man, 4th ed, Chemical Toxicology Institute, 1995

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