Rapid determination of toxic cyanide concentrations in blood

This method for the rapid colorimetry of cyanide in blood, applicable to patients exposed to toxic levels of cyanide, is based on the König reaction, which produces a chromophore from cyanide as well as thiocyanate. The latter compound, normally present in blood, is confined to plasma. Thus, its interference with determination of cyanide was eliminated by performing the assay on the erythrocytes, which contain most of the blood cyanide. Furthermore, cyanide was trapped in the erythrocytes and stabilized during the initial washing steps by conversion of hemoglobin to methemoglobin with inorganic nitrite.