Semiautomated analysis of ethanol and acetate in human plasma by head space gas chromatography

Abstract

Plasma samples (0.5 mL) were analyzed for ethanol and acetate by head space gas chromatography using a Porapak QS® column (80–100 mesh). Acetate was esterified to methyl acetate simply by the addition of acidified methanol. The analytical ranges were 1.61–103 and 0.05–1.9 mM for ethanol and acetate, respectively. The within-run coefficients of variation did not exceed 4.7% for acetate and 2.7% for ethanol. After the oral administration of ethanol to two healthy human subjects, the concentration versus time profiles of plasma ethanol and acetate were determined. Acetate concentrations (0.4–0.9 mM) remained quite constant while ethanol was being metabolized and appeared not to be affected by the concentration of ethanol in the range 3–18 mM. The advantages of the method are speed and simplicity.