Screening Tests for Iron Poisoning
The availability of iron-containing medications is relatively high, particularly in households with younger children. Since these iron-containing compounds resemble candy, they may be ingested in quantities that may cause potential fatal complications within six to 48 hours. The symptoms include nausea and vomiting, hemorrhage, hypoglycemia, acidosis, and shock. Prompt identification of iron overdose is essential for subsequent appropriate therapy. Although clinical and laboratory evidence such as leukocytosis, hypoglycemia, vomiting and diarrhea, and abdominal radiographs are used to identify the patient with serum iron levels of 300 µg/dl or greater, these findings are not specific enough. McGuigan et al note that a quick and easy qualitative iron assay has been described for patients examined within the first two hours after ingestion. The simple method requires two disposable non-iron-containing plastic tubes. To each test tube 2 ml of gastric fluid and two drops of 30% H2O2 are added.
