Rajshahi

Methanol poisoning is a serious health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where outbreaks can cause significant harm. Diagnosing this condition is difficult because its symptoms resemble many other illnesses, and traditional lab tests require costly equipment, often leading to missed diagnoses. Methanol itself is not highly toxic, but its breakdown product, formate, can cause brain swelling and death. To improve diagnosis, researchers have developed a new bedside test that measures formate using just a single drop of blood, eliminating the need for laboratory equipment. The research involves two connected studies. The first is an observational study comparing the new point-of-care (POC) formate test with standard laboratory tests to see how well it identifies methanol poisoning. If the new test shows good accuracy, a second feasibility study will follow, using a randomized approach where entire hospitals are assigned to different diagnostic methods. This second study aims to assess whether this trial design can be used in larger research to evaluate how the POC test affects clinical care and costs. Participants suspected of methanol poisoning or unexplained metabolic acidosis at hospitals in Bangladesh and India will take part. During the studies, researchers will collect data on how quickly samples are taken and results reported, time to start appropriate treatment, and the impact on clinical outcomes like deaths and intensive treatments. The studies also aim to raise awareness about methanol poisoning, improve early detection and treatment, and develop better protocols for patient care over a total participation involving initial assessment and follow-up.