Thiocyanate Unit Converter

Thiocyanate (SCN) is a small molecule produced when your body detoxifies cyanide. The enzyme rhodanese, found mainly in the liver and kidneys, converts cyanide into the much less toxic thiocyanate, which is then cleared through the urine.

Serum thiocyanate is most commonly measured to monitor for toxicity during sodium nitroprusside therapy (a blood pressure medication that releases cyanide as it is metabolized). It is also used as a biological marker of tobacco smoke exposure, since cigarette smoke contains hydrogen cyanide.

Beyond its role as a waste product, thiocyanate also participates in innate immunity. Enzymes such as myeloperoxidase and lactoperoxidase oxidize thiocyanate into hypothiocyanous acid, an antimicrobial agent that helps defend mucosal surfaces against bacteria.

Thiocyanate is produced primarily in the liver and kidneys, where the mitochondrial enzyme rhodanese converts cyanide and thiosulfate into thiocyanate. Dietary sources include cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, kale) and cyanogenic foods such as cassava, while tobacco smoke is the major exogenous source in smokers.