An Individual Is Brought to the Hospital Emergency Department with Nausea,vomiting,and

An individual is brought to the hospital emergency department with nausea,vomiting,and an altered mental status.An empty bottle of nonprescription enteric-coated acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) was found at her bedside by her husband 30 minutes earlier.Although all signs and symptoms point to salicylate overdose,laboratory analysis indicated no acid-base disorder and low salicylate concentration using a photometric procedure.What is the explanation of this discrepancy?

A) Aspirin overdose does not produce toxic effects,so the emergency department physicians should request different laboratory tests.
B) The laboratory analyses were likely not specific or sensitive enough to discern the salicylate level or the acid-base disorder.
C) There has been too lengthy a period of time between pill ingestion and laboratory analysis,and all laboratory values have returned to normal levels.
D) The enteric-coated pills delayed aspirin absorption and blood work was collected before the salicylate could reach maximum concentration.