Detection of brominism by an automated chloride method.

In the performance of routine determinations of serum chloride by the automated method, which depends on halide displacement of mercury from the thiocyanate to allow formation of ferric thiocyanate complex, 4 cases of bromide poisoning were detected. Experimental evidence shows the halide substitution to be an equilibrium, with higher formation constants for the heavier halide ions. As a result, the chloride determination simultaneously becomes a screen for brominism since the presence of appreciable quantities of bromide ion in serum will produce apparently high chloride values.