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Alcohol Ethanol Serum

Blood
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Report in 48Hrs

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At Home

nofastingrequire

No Fasting Required

Details

Commonly used to detect and measure the level of alcohol (ethanol) in the blood

₹1,225₹1,499

18% OFF

Alcohol Ethanol Serum Test Information Guide

  • Why is it done?
    • Measures the concentration of ethanol (alcohol) in the blood serum to assess current alcohol intoxication levels and blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
    • Diagnose acute alcohol intoxication in emergency department settings or suspected overdose situations
    • Evaluate altered mental status, confusion, or loss of consciousness when alcohol intoxication is suspected
    • Legal and forensic purposes including DUI/DWI investigations and workplace drug screening programs
    • Monitor patients with history of alcohol use disorder or during alcohol rehabilitation programs
    • Assess contribution of alcohol to clinical presentations in patients with trauma, cardiac symptoms, or metabolic abnormalities
    • Perform pre-operative assessment to determine anesthetic risk and medication interactions in surgical patients
  • Normal Range
    • Normal/Negative Result: 0 mg/dL or <10 mg/dL (negative for alcohol)
    • Units of Measurement: mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) or mmol/L (millimoles per liter)
    • Interpretation Categories:
    • Negative/Not Detected: 0-<10 mg/dL - No ethanol present in blood
    • Mild Intoxication: 20-99 mg/dL - Detectable levels with slight impairment
    • Moderate Intoxication: 100-199 mg/dL - Observable impairment of judgment and coordination
    • High Intoxication: 200-399 mg/dL - Significant impairment with potential loss of consciousness
    • Severe Intoxication: ≥400 mg/dL - Dangerous level with risk of respiratory depression and death
    • Legal Driving Limit: ≥80 mg/dL (0.08%) in most jurisdictions is considered legally intoxicated
  • Interpretation
    • 0 mg/dL (Negative): No alcohol detected in bloodstream; patient is not intoxicated
    • 10-80 mg/dL (Trace to Legal Limit): Alcohol present but below legal driving limit; may indicate recent consumption; clinical effects variable
    • 80-150 mg/dL (Legally Impaired): Above legal driving limit; impaired judgment, reaction time, and coordination; increased safety risks
    • 150-250 mg/dL (Significant Intoxication): Marked impairment of cognitive and motor function; nausea, vomiting, drowsiness common; potential for blackouts
    • 250-350 mg/dL (Severe Intoxication): Severe neurological depression; potential loss of consciousness; respiratory depression; medical emergency
    • >350 mg/dL (Critical/Potentially Fatal): Life-threatening intoxication; risk of respiratory arrest, aspiration, coma, and death; requires intensive care
    • Factors Affecting Results:
    • Time since alcohol consumption - levels peak 30-90 minutes after ingestion
    • Body weight and composition - larger individuals have lower BAC for same amount consumed
    • Food intake - food delays absorption and lowers peak BAC
    • Gender - women typically have higher BAC than men for same alcohol consumption due to lower water content
    • Alcohol tolerance and chronic use - may mask severity of intoxication clinically
    • Metabolism rate - approximately 15-20 mg/dL per hour; genetic variations affect rate
    • Medications and substances - certain medications can potentiate alcohol effects or interfere with metabolism
  • Associated Organs
    • Primary Organ Systems Affected:
    • Central Nervous System - impairs cognitive function, judgment, coordination, and consciousness
    • Liver - primary site of alcohol metabolism; chronic use causes hepatic injury and cirrhosis
    • Cardiovascular System - increases heart rate, blood pressure; can cause arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy
    • Respiratory System - depresses respiration; high BAC can cause respiratory failure
    • Gastrointestinal System - irritates mucosa, causes gastritis, ulcers, and GI bleeding
    • Medical Conditions Associated with Abnormal Results:
    • Acute Alcohol Intoxication - excessive consumption leading to CNS depression and potential medical emergency
    • Alcohol Use Disorder - chronic alcohol dependence with potential for withdrawal syndrome
    • Alcohol-Related Liver Disease - ranging from steatosis to cirrhosis and hepatic failure
    • Alcoholic Neuropathy - peripheral nerve damage from chronic alcohol use
    • Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome - thiamine deficiency from chronic alcohol abuse affecting memory and cognition
    • Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy - heart muscle disease from chronic heavy alcohol use
    • Acute Pancreatitis - inflammation triggered by excessive alcohol consumption
    • Metabolic Acidosis - particularly lactic acidosis and ketoacidosis from heavy alcohol use
    • Potential Complications and Risks:
    • Respiratory Depression and Arrest - at very high BAC levels (>350 mg/dL)
    • Aspiration and Pneumonia - from altered consciousness and impaired protective airway reflexes
    • Hypoglycemia - alcohol impairs hepatic glucose production
    • Seizures - from sudden alcohol withdrawal or severe intoxication
    • Hepatic Encephalopathy - from acute liver failure in severe poisoning or chronic cirrhosis
    • Traumatic Injury - from impaired judgment and motor coordination leading to accidents
  • Follow-up Tests
    • Recommended Based on Positive/Elevated Results:
    • Liver Function Panel - AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin to assess hepatic injury
    • Blood Glucose - to detect hypoglycemia common in acute intoxication
    • Electrolytes Panel - sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2 to assess acid-base balance
    • Blood Gas Analysis - to evaluate respiratory function and metabolic acidosis
    • Kidney Function Tests - creatinine and BUN to assess renal status in severe intoxication
    • Lactate Level - to detect lactic acidosis from severe intoxication
    • Toxicology Screen - if concerned about polysubstance abuse or unknown intoxicants
    • Thiamine and Folate Levels - particularly in chronic alcohol users to evaluate for deficiencies
    • Coagulation Studies - PT/INR to assess for hepatic synthetic dysfunction
    • Magnesium Level - alcohol depletes magnesium and increases seizure risk
    • Monitoring and Follow-up Recommendations:
    • For Acute Intoxication - repeat BAC testing at 30-60 minute intervals to track metabolism and declining levels
    • For Chronic Alcohol Use - regular monitoring with liver function tests, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), GGT, and aspartate aminotransferase
    • In Rehabilitation Programs - periodic serum ethanol testing and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) testing for long-term abstinence monitoring
    • For Liver Disease - monitor with ultrasound or fibroscan, complete metabolic panel, platelet count quarterly
    • In Legal Cases - document serial BAC measurements and establish timeline of alcohol metabolism
    • Complementary Related Tests:
    • Urine Ethanol - alternative specimen for alcohol detection; may be ordered concurrently
    • Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) - detects alcohol consumption over previous 3-5 days
    • Ethyl Sulfate (EtS) - alternative long-term alcohol metabolite detection marker
    • Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) - marker of chronic alcohol consumption over 3-4 weeks
  • Fasting Required?
    • Fasting Required: No
    • General Instructions:
    • Fasting is not required for this test - blood sample can be drawn at any time regardless of food or drink intake
    • However, fasting status may affect interpretation - food in stomach delays alcohol absorption and affects peak BAC levels
    • Special Instructions and Patient Preparation:
    • Avoid topical alcohol products - disinfectant-type alcohol on skin can contaminate specimen if not properly cleaned before blood draw
    • Sample collection site must be cleansed with chlorhexidine or soap and water, not alcohol, to prevent false positive results
    • Document time of specimen collection - critical for interpreting BAC levels and calculating metabolism rates in forensic cases
    • Inform healthcare provider of all medications taken - certain medications can affect alcohol metabolism or interact with ethanol
    • No medication restrictions typically needed specifically for this test
    • Document any mouth rinses or mouthwash used before testing as they may contain alcohol
    • For forensic testing - maintain proper chain of custody documentation from collection through analysis
    • In emergency settings - test can be performed immediately without preparation as timing is critical in acute cases

How our test process works!

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