Charcoal may skew lab results, study warns

NCT ID NCT07220031

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study looks at whether taking activated charcoal can change certain blood test results, like osmolality and ethylene glycol levels. Eight healthy volunteers will take a dose of charcoal and have blood drawn over six hours. The goal is to see if charcoal causes false positives or altered readings, which could affect how doctors diagnose poisoning.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Activated Charcoal
What this could lead to
If it works, this could help doctors interpret lab tests more accurately in patients who have taken charcoal.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early study in only 8 healthy people. Results may not apply to sick patients or real poisoning cases.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Upstate Medical University Clinical Research Unit

    Syracuse, New York, 13210, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.