OBJECTIVETo establish a method for determining 2, 4-D butylate in serum by gas chromatography (GC)and to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of clinical poisoning.

METHODSSerum 2, 4-D butylate level was determined by the following steps: mixing serum (0.5 ml)with trichloromethane (2.0 ml), adequately shaking for extraction, standing for 5 min, centrifuging at 4 000 rpm for 10 min, blow-drying the trichloromethane layer with nitrogen, adding ethanol (50 µl)to a certain volume, adding the sample (1.0 µl), and performing GC with a hydrogen flame ionization detector.

RESULTSSerum 2, 4-D butylate level showed a linear relationship within 5∼40 µg/ml, with a regression equation of y = 1 831.6.4x-899.4 (r = 0.999 2); the minimum detectable concentration was 1.0 µg/ml. The recovery rate was 88.7%∼103.0% (relative standard deviation (RSD) 3.8%∼5.0%). The intra-day RSD and inter-day RSD were 3.87-4.92% and 3.33%∼5.34%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis determination method is simple, efficient, and accurate and provides a good means for rapid diagnosis and treatment of 2, 4-D butylate poisoning.