ethanol in serum/plasma/blood

Reference interval

• Not applicable.

Principle

The ALC pack is used to quantitatively measure ethyl alcohol in serum, plasma, & supernatants from precipitated whole blood, & to qualitatively detect ethyl alcohol in urine. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) catalyzes the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde, with the simultaneous reduction of nicotinamide- adenine dinucleotide (NAD). An alkaline pH & an aldehyde trapping agent force the reaction to one mole of NADH for each mole of alcohol present. The absorbance due to NADH (and thus the alcohol concentration) is determined using a two-filter (340-383 nm) endpoint technique.

Clinical significance

The ALC pack is used in the DuPont ACA to quantitatively measure ethyl alcohol in serum, plasma, & supernatants from precipitated whole blood. It is used to assess the physiological & psychological effects of ethanol.

80 mg/dL or 0.08% is legal level of intoxication.

Ethanol metabolism: 15-30 mg/dL/hr.

Increases

• alcohol intoxication

Specimen

When collecting blood alcohol, use a non-alcohol germicidal solution to cleanse the skin. The specimen tubes should be completely filled. Serum or plasma should be removed from the erythrocytes & either analyzed promptly or stored under refrigeration.

If reusable containers, syringes, & needles are employed, they must not be cleaned or stored with alcohol or other volatile solvents.

Blood specimens should be kept tightly stoppered & cannot be stored for more than 14 days prior to analysis.

More general terms

• ethanol in body fluid

More specific terms

• ethanol in blood
• ethanol in serum/plasma

Additional terms

• ethanol in urine
• ethanol; ethyl alcohol
• ethyl glucuronide in urine

Component of

• coma panel