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Synonyms
- Alcohol, Blood
- Blood Alcohol Level
- Ethyl Alcohol, Blood
Special Instructions
Do not prepare venipuncture site with alcohol or remove stopper from tube.
Expected Turnaround Time
3 - 5 days
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Related Documents
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Whole blood or serum
Volume
7 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
Gray-top (sodium fluoride) tube (preferred) or red-top tube. Submit original unopened tube. Do not centrifuge and separate serum if a red-top tube is submitted.
Storage Instructions
Room temperature
Stability Requirements
Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
Room temperature | 14 days |
Refrigerated | 14 days |
Frozen | 14 days |
Freeze/thaw cycles | Stable x3 |
Test Details
Use
Quantitation of alcohol level for medical or legal purposes; test unconscious patients; used to diagnose alcohol intoxication and determine appropriate therapy; detect alcoholism and to monitor ethanol treatment for methanol intoxication. Must be tested as possible cause of coma of unknown etiology since alcohol intoxication may mimic diabetic coma, cerebral trauma and drug overdose.
Limitations
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Labcorp. It has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Methodology
Gas chromatography (GC)
Reference Interval
Negative (cutoff = 0.010%)
Additional Information
Ethanol is absorbed rapidly from the GI tract. Peak blood levels usually occur within 40 to 70 minutes on an empty stomach. Food in the stomach can decrease the absorption of alcohol. Ethanol is metabolized by the liver to acetaldehyde. Once peak blood ethanol levels are reached, disappearance is linear; a 70 kg man metabolizes 7−10 g of alcohol/hour (15±5 mg/dL/hour). The urine:blood ratio is considered to be about 1.35:1 but is quite variable. The average saliva:blood ratio is 1:20. Symptoms of intoxication in the presence of low alcohol levels could indicate a serious acute medical problem requiring immediate attention. The half-lives and effectiveness of certain drugs (eg, barbiturates, etc) are increased in the presence of ethanol.
References
Simpson G. Accuracy and precision of breath-alcohol measurements for a random subject in the postabsorptive state. Clin Chem. 1987 Feb; 33(2 Pt 1):261-268. 3802510
LOINC® Map
| Order Code | Order Code Name | Order Loinc | Result Code | Result Code Name | UofM | Result LOINC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 017996 | Ethanol, Blood | 56478-1 | 070003 | Ethanol | % | 56478-1 |
| 017996 | Ethanol, Blood | 56478-1 | 072470 | Special Handling | N/A |
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