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Ethylene glycol test


Ethylene glycol is a type of alcohol found in many household products. It does not have color or odor. It tastes sweet. Ethylene glycol is poisonous. People sometimes drink ethylene glycol by mistake or on purpose as a substitute for alcohol.

A test can be done to check for ethylene glycol in the blood.

How the Test is Performed


The procedure is done in the following way:

  • A needle is gently inserted into the vein.
  • The elastic band is removed.
  • The needle is removed.


How to Prepare for the Test

No special preparation is needed.

How the Test Will Feel


Why the Test is Performed

This test is ordered when a health care provider thinks someone has been poisoned by ethylene glycol. Drinking ethylene glycol is a medical emergency. Ethylene glycol can damage the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, and lungs. The poisoning  disturbs the body's chemistry and can lead to  condition called metabolic acidosis. In severe cases, shock, organ failure, and death can result.

Normal Results

There should be no ethylene glycol present in the blood.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Abnormal results are a sign of possible ethylene glycol poisoning.


There is very little risk in having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks may include:

  • Excessive bleeding
  • Fainting or feeling light-headed
  • Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)



Review Date: 1/22/2013