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Test Code ALC Alcohol Level Blood 

Important Note

  • Do not cleanse the sample draw site with alcohol or other volatile disinfectants. Use only aqueous disinfectants.
  • Handle specimens in tightly stoppered containers with a minimum of dead air space.

Additional Codes

Cerner

NextGen

Alcohol

Alcohol Level Blood

Tox Ethanol Level

 

Ethanol TOX

 

Alternate Name(s)

Blood Alcohol

Ethanol Level

ETOH Level

ETHANOL SERUM

Useful For

Ethanol is the most encountered toxic substance. The measurement of ethanol is used in the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol intoxication and poisoning. Chronic ethanol use has been linked to liver disease, high blood pressure, cardiac disease, and birth defects. Acute ethanol intoxication can result in coma and death.

Methodology

Colorimetric (reflectance spectrophotometry).

Patient Preparation

None

Collection Instructions

  • Standard phlebotomy practices.
  • Do not cleanse the sample draw site with alcohol or other volatile disinfectants. Use only aqueous disinfectants.
  • Handle specimens in tightly stoppered containers with a minimum of dead air space.

Specimen Requirements

Container

Specimen Type

Tube

Lithium Heparin Plasma

PST

 or 

Serum

 or 

SST

 or 

 

Stability

Storage

Temperature

Stability

Room Temperature

18-28°C

≤ 2 days

Refrigerated

 2-8°C

≤ 2 weeks

Frozen

≤-18 °C

at least 1 month

Rejection Criteria

Gross Hemolysis

Result Reporting and Reference Values

Reported in mg/dL.

Age

Negative

High

Critical Low

Critical High

All

<10

10

N/A

>400

Reflex Testing

None

Limitations

  • Ortho reports a bias with the following:
    • Metronidazole at 12.5 mg/dL shows a bias of 8 mg/dL
    • Methotrexate at 45.4 mg/dL shows a bias of 11.0 mg/dL
  • Ortho reports no significant effect with the following: 
    • Bilirubin up to 40 mg/dL
    • Hemoglobin up to 1000 mg/dL
    • Lipemia up to 800 mg/dL