Historical QOD 12/02/08: What problem with measuring 1,3-propanediol by GC-MS requires clinicians to maintain a high level of suspicion for this toxicant?
1,3-propanediol is used as the internal standard used in GC-MS for measuring glycols. So, a person poisoned by 1,3-propanediol won’t have a corresponding peak by GC-MS because it will be hidden with in the internal standard peak. The internal standard peak may seem unusually large which should prompt repeat GC-MS using a different standard.
Garg U, Frazee CC 3rd, Kiscoan M, Scott D, Peterson B, Cathcart D. A fatality involving 1,3-propanediol and its implications in measurement of other glycols. J Anal Toxicol. 2008 May;32(4):324-6. doi: 10.1093/jat/32.4.324. PMID: 18430302.
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