Perchloroethylene (Tetrachloroethylene), Blood
Perchloroethylene (Tetrachloroethylene), Blood
    
Number
723213
CPT
84600
Related Information
  • Chlorinated Solvents Exposure Profile, Blood
  • Perchloroethylene (Tetrachloroethylene) Exposure Profile
  • Trichloroacetic Acid, Urine
  • Synonyms
    Tetrachloroethylene, Perc
    Specimen
    Whole blood
    Volume
    7 mL
    Minimum Volume
    1.1 mL
    Container
    Lavender-top (EDTA) tube; submit original full, unopened tube.
    Collection
    Sampling time is prior to the last shift of the work week for industrial exposure monitoring. Solvents with timing “prior to the last shift of the work week” (meaning 16 hours without exposure) display multiphasic elimination and may accumulate in the body. Therefore, their timing is given in relation to the work week exposure as well as the postexposure periods.
    Storage Instructions
    Refrigerate
    Causes for Rejection
    Opened tube or pour-off; clotted specimen; gray-top (sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate) tube
    Reference Interval
    • Environmental exposure: none detected
    • Occupational exposure: (BEI®) sampling time prior to the last shift of the work week: 0.500 mg/L1
    Use
    Monitor exposure to perchloroethylene
    Methodology
    Gas chromatography (GC)
    Additional Information
    Perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene) toxicity via acute exposure may cause blistering of the skin on contact and CNS depressant effects (eg, confusion, irritability, nausea, numbness, coma). Chronic exposure may produce damage to the liver, kidneys, and spleen.2 Perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene) is employed in industry as a dry agent and as a degreasing solvent. Toxicity is predominantly attributed to occupational exposure primarily via pulmonary absorption. Blood is the preferred method for monitoring an acute or recent exposure.

    BEI® are reference values intended as guidelines for evaluation of occupational exposure. BEI® represent biological levels of chemicals that correspond to workers with inhalation exposure equivalent to the threshold limit value (TLV®) of the chemicals. TLV®s refer to the airborne concentrations of substances and represent conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, without adverse health effects.1

    Footnotes
    1. TLV®s and BEI®s, Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices 2004, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
    2. Baselt RC and Cravey RH, Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man, 4th ed, Chemical Toxicology Institute, 1995

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