Colorimetric and Gas Chromatographic Procedures for Glycolic Acid in Serum: The Major Toxic Metabolite of Ethylene Glycol

Monitoring of individuals poisoned with ethylene glycol involves analysis of ethylene glycol in serum. The objective of this procedure was to validate a colorimetric and gas chromatographic procedure for glycolic acid in serum. The colorimetric procedure requires no sophisticated instrumentation and has been shown to be specific for glycolic acid. A gas chromatographic procedure has also been developed involving methyl derivatization of glycolic acid and the internal standard (propionic acid). These methods have been used for the analysis of serum specimens from ethylene glycol poisoned patients. Glycolic acid has been recognized as the major toxic agent in ethylene glycol poisoning but current methods available do not allow analysis in a clinically relevant turnaround time. These two procedures allow glycolic acid quantitation by procedures readily set up in most clinical toxicology laboratories.