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False-positive tests for urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Error in laboratory determinations caused by glyceryl guaiacolate.

A metabolic by-product of glyceryl guaiacolate, a widely used expectorant, causes a false-positive increase in urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in laboratory tests. This interference may result in confusion during evaluation of patients for the carcinoid syndrome. This problem of false-positive test results is particularly relevant to asthmatic patients, who are frequently on a regimen of compounds which contain glyceryl guaiacolate. On occasion, particularly when they have abdominal distress and diarrhea, asthmatics may be evaluated for the carcinoid syndrome. In such instances, discontinuation of glyceryl guaiacolate for 24 hours before the collection of 24-hour urine specimens for 5-HIAA determination is recommended.