Urine fluorescence: is it a good test for ethylene glycol ingestion?

Abstract

The recent study by Casavant et al1 concluded that urine fluorescence is an inappropriate screening tool for ethylene glycol ingestion in children. This conclusion was based on their finding that most urine specimens tested fluoresced. We feel that methodologic flaws lead to erroneous conclusions. The authors selected a nonrandomized convenience sample of children hospitalized for reasons other than a toxic ingestion. Although the authors mentioned that numerous drugs, food products, and toxins fluoresce, they never stated whether exclusion criteria were applied to limit potential false-positive results. Thus, the high rate of positive urine fluorescence could be attributed to commonly administered medications, such as antibiotics or vitamins.2 Also, the use of plastic tubes for testing despite knowing that both glass and plastic …