GC-FID Quantification of Methanol, Ethanol, 2-Propanol, Acetone, Ethylene Glycol, Diethylene Glycol, 1,2-Propylene Glycol and 1,3-Propylene Glycol in Plasma

Alcohol and glycol ingestion, including substances such as methanol, ethylene glycol, and isopropanol, constitutes a serious medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment of patients. Rapid and accurate quantification of these compounds in plasma is essential to guide clinical decision-making and prevent delays in treatment that could result in irreversible organ damage or death. Many healthcare facilities lack analytical methods capable of simultaneously quantifying both alcohols and glycols in a single run. This study describes the development and validation of a rapid gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID) method for the simultaneous screening and quantification of methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, acetone, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol and 1,3-propylene glycol in human plasma. Plasma samples were prepared using a protein precipitation technique with acetonitrile containing two internal standards: 2-butanol and 1,4-butanediol. Acetonitrile effectively precipitated plasma proteins. The supernatant was then subjected to GC-FID analysis for quantification of the target alcohols and glycols. The total analytical run time was 5 minutes, enabling the quantification of eight analytes in a single injection. The method demonstrated excellent linearity, with correlation coefficients (R2) exceeding 0.9995 for all compounds. The linear dynamic range was 40–1280 mg/L for methanol, 2-propanol, acetone, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, and 1,3-propylene glycol, and 80–2560 mg/L for ethanol. Within-run and between-run precision and accuracy (CV and bias) for all analytes were within the accepted criteria of ± 15%. No significant interference, carry-over, or matrix effects were observed, confirming the method’s selectivity and robustness. The developed GC-FID method enables rapid, accurate, and simultaneous quantification of toxic alcohols and glycols in plasma within a 5-minute run time. The excellent linearity, precision, and selectivity of the method met all analytical performance criteria, making it well-suited for routine clinical use. This method provides a valuable tool for timely diagnosis and management of suspected toxic alcohol and glycol ingestions in patients in emergency settings.